I just wrapped up an eight week MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction) class. It was equal parts challenging and rewarding. Challenging in that it required investing time in myself and deep introspection. Rewarding in that I invested time in myself and made space for introspection. I was able to become more intimate and more vulnerable with myself, both of which have felt extra difficult this past year.
MBSR was founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn. He defines mindfulness as "the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally."
One of the focal points of the class is to create a stronger relationship between mind and body to help alleviate stress. So often we don't acknowledge stress until it manifests in our minds, but often, that stress is first recognizable in our bodies - clenched teeth, tight shoulders, headaches.
The class consists of many meditations (walking, standing, movement, silent, body scans) and reflection on those experiences. We also discuss the science behind mindfulness - our wiring, interoception, negativity bias' and resistance.
Though the class is over, the work is not. Mindfulness is the practice of a lifetime. And this week, I really want to present the idea to y'all of working to pay attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally. We spend so much time either in anticipation or memory, often judging. So, as much as possible, let us work on really being present. Be here now.
LINKS TO CLICK :)
Emotions are weird. And having the vocabulary to express what we're feeling can often times be difficult. It's hard to get in touch with what's going on when the intensity comes up. Here's a 10 minute meditation to help
What do you call a bee that can't make up its mind? A maybee
Another wonderful takeaway from my MBSR class is the Buddhist belief of the second arrow. The idea behind the belief or practice is that the first arrow is that which causes us pain and is often something we can't control - for example, we fall and break a leg. This accident causes us pain. The second arrow is the attention we give the pain. The rumination, the focus. We keep focusing on the pain caused by the first arrow, which causes us to suffer. In simple, simple terms, one can define suffering with the following equation: suffering = pain x time. So, the second arrow is the time. Acknowledging this has been immensely helpful in pinpointing my own self-inflicted suffering. I hope it can help you, too.
Peter CottonTale's album "CATCH" makes me want to believe in God. And it definitely helped me get through quarantine.
This week's On Being feature is an episode with Alain de Botton.de Botton speaks on love and relationships, highlighting the acceptance of the ordinary, the ugly and the work it takes to make love work. He acknowledges that no one learns through humiliation and that it is an incredibly human desire to be understood. Don't skip this one. It's good.
I missed a lot of things last year, including Chika's Tiny Desk performance. Make time for it today. Thank you Alia for putting me on!
Anxious People by Fredrick Backman is a novel that feels like a handful of short stories woven together, speaking about familial relationships, the desire to help others, hurt and forgiveness. Backman's writing style is extra unique in this one, so personally, it took a few chapters to get adjusted.
With spring on the horizon, it's a great time to start to plan and prepare for our summer gardens. The Old Farmers Almanac offers tried and true tips on how to start, and which, seedlings.
Did you catch D'Angelo on Verzuz a few weeks back? It was fabulous, as assumed.
Do you use a wellness app? I've tried, but they've never really *clicked* for me. This article from Jenna Wortham, "The Rise of the Wellness App," helped shed light on why that may be. The rise of apps and corporate wellness all seem to focus on productivity, which misses the mark on actual rest and wellness.
