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Mindfulness

Back to Basics: Mindfulness Meditation

As we get older, at times it may feel like time is moving more rapidly. Why does this occur? Many theories and I wonder if our mind spends less time really being present; hence, the experience of time flying by.

Every year, we acquire more memories, the accumulation of tasks and a few more aches and pains (mental and physical). It makes sense that our mind will focus on these past moments and/or anticipate more coming our way. Past: Reliving what did not go well. Embarrassed about something we did. Angry about what was done to us. Grieving something lost. Reviewing happy times. Future: Working out “to do” lists. Rehearing situations in our mind. Anxious about all that could potentially hurt us. Envision what we want in our life. Anticipating exciting events.

I invite you to experience your “childlike” nature. Practicing and going back to our basic nature; a place of experiencing the rapture of life. Dropping the worries of the past and/or anxiety of the future, being Present: aware of the body, breath, noticing all our senses and mindful of stimuli, noticing thoughts and feelings with acceptance.

"The purpose of life is not avoiding pain...it is living through pain and learning from it." -Dr. Jennifer Ashton

We struggle to live in the here and now. Life is consumed with what was or how it could be – expectations. A great deal of our spiritual anguish is a result of our inattention. We want to be “human doings” and the “being” part is difficult, we are out of practice. Our ability to connect with ourselves, others and even God is postulated on one’s ability to be attentive.

As we practice being still, returning back again and again to the present, several shifts can occur. You may experience time differently. Slowing down and smelling the roses can allow a pause; hence, time can take on a different element in our life. Life slows down in a way that it can be felt/experienced. We become more open to other perspectives (cultivating empathy), come to understand our ways of the past may not be best for the present, learn to accept “what is” versus resisting, quieting the mind, developing a “witnessing” perspective, knowing your purpose and decreasing activation of our central nervous system.

Insight Counseling Center (ICC) offers two programs you may experience to enhance the “basics” of life, allowing the rapture of the extraordinary in the ordinary to be a part of your daily life.

Mindfulness Meditation meets Mondays and Thursdays between 12:15- 12:45pm in person or Zoom. Brief discussion, followed by silent practice and concludes with observations, comments and/or general wonderings. No fee nor reservation necessary.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a course of practice developed by Jon Kabat Zinn out of University of Massachusetts Medical School. An eight session class with an all-day retreat for those interested in structured support to shift from “doing” to “being”.

There are many paths towards spiritual and mental contentment. Mindfulness meditation, centering prayer, silence and contemplation are some of the words/practices used to support said intention. ICC welcomes your presence to experience the present. Please feel free to contact our office and/or visit our website for more information.