Serving Niagara Families to
Support Each Other Since 1996
Support Each Other Since 1996
Is a Mindfulness practice going to improve my life?
No. You are going to do the work and a Mindfulness practice is one of your tools
‘Mindfulness-Based Self Care’, (MBSC), is a method of engaging in non-judgemental awareness, through the use of all individual senses, to identify personal needs and to direct attention to self-care.
The cultivation of mindfulness through the practice of meditation has a long history in Eastern spiritual traditions. By conceptualizing traditional mindfulness meditation practices as sets of skills, they can be taught independent of any personal religious belief system.
We examine and explore the foundations of a balanced life; considering our emotional, intellectual, physical, social, environmental, financial, spiritual and creative awareness; with the understanding that everything is transient and temporary.
MBSC provides an opportunity to observe our thoughts, emotions and body sensations, in a detached way. MBSC teaches us to pay attention to, and accept, in a non-judgmental way, what arises in the moment. It also empowers us to interrupt our ‘automatic’ response which does not provide full awareness of one’s actions. Kabat-Zinn (2003) notes that a mindful approach to self-care results in a position of compassion, interest, friendliness, and open-heartedness toward the experience observed in the present moment, regardless of how pleasant or averse that experience may be. We also learn to notice and not to attach to what we observe, even when experiencing intense thoughts, emotions and/or physical sensations.
Mindfulness is a method available to anyone for reducing suffering and encouraging the development of positive qualities, such as awareness, insight wisdom, compassion, and equanimity (Goldstein, 2002; Kabat-Zinn, 2003). Mindfulness-Based Self-Care training is a combination of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) (Kabat-Zinn, 1982; 1990) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) (Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002). As well, there are variations on these approaches. In spite of these variations, general instructions are common to mindfulness practices. Participants are encouraged to focus their attention directly on an activity, such as breathing. When the mind wanders into thoughts, memories, or fantasies, individuals are asked to note briefly that the mind has wandered and then gently return their attention to the target of observation.
This MBSC program includes practices that are both long and short in duration. With no prescription dosage, participants may simply dip a toe or take a full plunge. Many practices include methods for teaching mindful awareness. These methods may include structured meditation practices, during which participants sit quietly for periods of up to forty-five minutes while directing their attention in specific ways. Other practices are shorter in duration and encourage participants to bring awareness to routine activities such as walking, bathing, eating, or driving. All will come away with the awareness that a little mindfulness can go a long way in Self-Care.
Our Mindfulness instructors are Kathryn Richmond and Dan Silver.
A few articles of interest…
readings-befriending-our-feelings
readings-siff-thoughts-are-not-the-enemy