Why Mindfulness?

“When you are not being driven by old habits, a world of possibility opens up.” 

                                                                           -Mindfulness teacher Sharon Salzberg

Mindfulness: the Super-skill for Change

Mindfulness has become a trendy topic at the moment, but for good reason: an increasing amount of research indicates the health-giving effects mindfulness has on many mental and physical conditions, from depression to blood pressure regulation.

Mindfulness is mainly seen as a form of stress management. However, this sells mindfulness short, for it encompasses so much more. Mindfulness gives those who practice the opportunity to gain perspective of their thoughts, emotions and sensations, and their relationship to them. 

I regard mindfulness as a Superskill for sustained habit-change. It is a practice of creating awareness: awareness of your feelings, your thoughts, and your behaviors. A Harvard study determined that we spend about half of our waking time unaware; “autopilot” in mindfulness vernacular. Lots of damage can occur when your go-to is autopilot, all the overs and under that are not helpful come from here. The biggest difference Mindfulness creates in us, however, is experiencing this self-awareness without judgement or criticism; instead what you begin to cultivate is deep curiosity. And…

when you can learn to notice judgement, in whatever form, and turn it into curiosity, you can do ANYTHING.

Mindfulness gives us the opportunity to slow down, take a step back and, with new perspective, respond rather than react to our experiences. What does that look like in real life?

• It looks like doughnuts that get left in the box

• It looks like finally finishing “that’ thing; you know what it is

• It looks like saying “no” to one more episode

• It looks like tying your walking shoes and stepping outside

• It looks like truly getting familiar with the inner piece

Is this process always perfect? HAHAHA, NEVER! This is why we call it a practice. But it does work, and the more you do it, the more you create stronger neural pathways that support this new way of being. These new habits become increasingly quick, painless and automatic. Changing this way becomes easier the more you do it, and not harder. Which is why it lasts.

With this inner piece of Mindfulness as a start, we will work together to equip you with the tools to use this process as a method of self-discovery toward lasting change.