Outline from last Saturday's Workshop!
(25 cent tip of the day) It all starts with AWARENESS, we had a thought, a judgement, a worry etc., acknowledge it, let it go. This is the whole PRACTICE!
Mindfulness Meditation Overview
Mindfulness
Paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally.
Mindful Meditation
Turning our mindful awareness inward to affectionately investigate what is arising in the body.
-Exploring the idea of new relationship with stress
-Noticing Reactive Patterns
-Avoiding pain/discomfort, trying to fix it
-Carried away by thoughts? Writing a story
-Judging, things are pleasant or unpleasant, right or wrong
Mindfulness Practices/Techniques
Awareness of Breath –A large source of stress is caused by the mind constantly darting back and forth from past worry to future anxiety. The breath is the anchor to the present moment, conditioning returning to the breath(the present), and awareness of being carried away in thought.
(SPOILER ALERT: THOUGHTS ARE NOT FACTS!)
Body Scan – Conditioning response instead of reaction, practicing the ability to tune into what are real happenings in the body(No Story). Feelings and sensations without judgement, allowing, investigating and softening to what is in the moment.
Mindful Walking – Tuning into the sensation of movement in the body. Mindfulness in action further strengthens focus on the present moment.
Mindful Listening –The way we listen to others is the way we listen to ourselves. Practicing just hearing and being with what is said. To be heard and understood is much more validating than to be advised or fixed.
Mindful Eating, Mindful Commuting, Mindfulness in Everyday Activities – Life keeps coming, By engaging all of senses into what we’re doing, we continue to train our minds to stay in the present, find that habits that no longer serve us can change.
Core Concepts - Awareness, Acceptance – Every time we notice we were carried away by thought, we are already back. Conditioning this awareness is just as much a part of the practice as the object of attention. As we become more aware and accept our feelings, thoughts and circumstances, we cumulatively begin accepting ourselves, and that’s what it’s all about : )
FYI: Sooner or later you’re just going to have to deal with the fact that you’re pretty great!
Pain’s Only Purpose is to Summon Care
