Time and Tide wait for no man– time is precious and should not be wasted because no one is powerful to stop time from running.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment and non judgementally, to things as they are.
Jon Kabat-Zinn (1994)
Mindfulness is an ancient form of meditation which if practiced regularly can help us step away from the constant cycle of thinking and worrying to simply being ‘here and now’. Mindfulness, whilst therapeutic, is not therapy.
It is simply a process where we come to know ourselves a bit better.
By quietly sitting and observing our own minds, we get to know how we work.
By doing this on a regular basis we come to see that it is often the way our minds relate to problems rather than the problems themselves that can cause us difficulty and sometimes harm.
Since the 1980′s mindfulness meditation has been rigorously researched for its benefits and piloted by specialists who are themselves dedicated mindfulness practitioners. The original Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR) was piloted by Jon Kabat-Zinn and staff at the University of Massachussetts Medical Centre, USA. This has since been adapted by Zendel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale to be used with people prone to depressive relapse. It is now also used in fields such as pain relief, psychotherapy, eating disorders, cancer and heart conditions in a variety of clinical and community settings.
There are a growing number of practitioners in the UK. Major centres for study and research include the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (University of Bangor) and the Oxford Mindfulness Centre.
NEW YEAR seems to challenge people to reflect on what is and consider what they want for their future and what changes they want to make to promote happiness and well-being.
What resources do you need ? What resources do you have available to you?
We tend to focus only on our weaknesses, but we all have enormous reserves of resources,
often only used at certain times, for example in one situation such
as work, or at times of family crises. But if you have those
strengths and resources at those times, then you have them
available to you at any time – you just need to remind yourself
that those resources are there in order to access them.
It has been said that happiness equals reality divided by
expectations. If our reality is lower than how we expect life to
be, then we’re likely to feel unhappy or discontent.
This formula therefore suggests that our reality needs to be
equally balanced with our expectations. The more we can
get them in balance, then the happier, more content,
accepting or peaceful, we are likely to be.
Therefore, in order to make positive change, we can choose
to improve our reality, and/or lower our expectations.
Welcome to 2012.
As we say goodbye to 2011 and welcome in 2012 what does this mean to us as individuals? Did you set any new year resolutions for the year ahead? January already at its end February already here, time unaware of its own existence or its value. We all seem to be focused on what’s next or what’s passed us by and miss out on the now. We seem to be creatures of productivity, doing rather than being, just being somehow not enough. Mindfulness promotes the being in the moment and reduces effects of stress, worry and anxiety. Why Mindfulness? What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness.
Here we are again the beginning of another year . A question always asked what are your resolutions for this New year? What promises do you make to yourself and how do you strive to achieve them?
I am very aware a year has passed since my friend and colleague Kate died but yet it seems like a blink of an eye . Concept of time is in the eye of the beholder .
I am sure for some the year will have dragged itself out, for others time will have stood still and for others time will have run out before managing to achieve what was set out towards.
I am conscious that for me in knowing people whose lives that have ended prematurely and those that are currently in the beginning of their personal journey after learning that their life is to be cut short makes me acknowledge that the majority of us trust that we will live till we are old and it is only when those in our inner circles are effected by sudden death or terminal illness that we stand back and wobble as we come to terms with our own mortality.
The impact for me is to ask what is really important to me? and what do I need to do? what needs to be in place ? My realization that I miss out on so much that is happening in the moment by rushing past it to strive to be more or to constantly analyse what has gone to see how I may do it different in the future but yet what does that look like and how will I know when I am there and what if I don’t get the opportunity as my life ends early all the while missing out on know .
Then I get back to trusting that I will be ok and my resolution is to be in the moment more and to have those dreams that spur me forward but not get lost in the planning but to have them as a light to guide me. Finding the balance between self care and giving to others .To ask for my needs to be met and not be afraid to take measured risks.
What does 2011 mean for you?
How can you make it count?
What do you hope for?
How do you steer yourself towards that place ?
