The word mindfulness has seeped into our daily lives. Wherever you turn these days mindfulness is there, or the wish to engage in mindfulness is there.
This is good... and then, not so good...
Mindfulness is simple: bringing awareness to every moment of your day. Easy concept, not so easy to practice. The word has become whitewashed with over use and the meaning has dissolved like writing on water. The actual quality of awareness is something to be learnt, to be practiced over and over. We all want it but we don’t do it.
Trying to address lifetimes of habit takes effort. It takes care, non-judgement, repetitive attention and the help of good company. This is where courses and training comes in.
Why take a mindfulness course?
Everyone has the desire for happiness. Not the hysterical-dizzying-smiling-crazy kind, although that definitely has it place. But a desire to be free from suffering of whatever kind– physically and psychologically.
Participants come to a Sydney Mindfulness Training course for many reasons: chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, addictive disorders or a deep heartache after a loss or breakup. Somewhere along the way, participants have lost a connection with themselves. Under all of this, however, most are looking for a kinder, calmer and more peaceful happiness. A deep-down-inside kind of happiness. Contentedness, maybe.
How does this happen in 8 weeks?
The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program runs across 8 weeks. To reach a point of happy contentment, in this Program, we look to physical and psychological stress symptom reduction, a better quality of life, better coping skills and a greater enhanced self-acceptance and connection to others. We can lower our physical stress response by learning to relate with more kindness to others, and ourselves.
How does mindfulness help?
Research has shown that mindfulness helps people become more self-aware and manage their emotions better. Learning to respond skilfully rather than react unconsciously in each moment triggers freedom from ‘powerlessness’ or ‘unwanted patterns’ and the ability to choose. Realising the thoughts that ‘pop’ into your head, like ‘there’s no point in doing this’ or ‘it’s not going to work’ are not true or facts. It’s not just you either! This mind that ‘has a mind of its own and often works against you’ happens to everyone. Mindfulness lets us see that. These pessimistic, hopeless thought patterns can only sabotage and undermine your efforts when you believe them.
If you can move your attention to your breath and calm yourself in that difficult moment, you are remaining stable even while the storm rages. Each time you do that and you remain steadfast to what you truly and deeply want, you are creating a new habit, or re-wiring your brain…
And of course there is so much more…
Remember, your hopes and dreams will remain just that unless you nurture them and give yourself the help you need. You can do it!
Maybe it is time for a mindfulness course?