Practicing Mindfulness
Written by Deborah Kronenberger, MA, LCPC, Wellness Programs Coordinator
The practice of mindfulness has its roots in the ancient traditions. It was originally conceived as a way to ease suffering and cultivate compassion. For the same reasons, it is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. Mindfulness is a conscious effort to be completely present and peaceful. It is a discipline of the mind that cultivates a non-judgmental presence in this moment. Often people get preoccupied with the future and the past and through mindfulness practice we learn to be present because that is where our life resides.
One way to develop mindful thinking is through practicing meditation. In meditation, we practice how we would like to live. We sit and focus on our breath and when our mind wanders, we bring it back to the breath. We practice noticing our experience (mind and body) and being peaceful with what is. We begin to allow our experience to flow, and we practice being nonjudgmental of it. We practice this so that it impacts our lives in the same way.
There are some other ways to practice being mindful:
- Take a breath and pause before talking
- Take a breath and pause before eating
- Pay attention when you walk
- Use the opposite hand to brush your teeth or eat
- Don’t watch TV or read while you eat
- Practice patience and letting go
To learn more about Mindfulness and it’s use in the Cancer Wellness Center, check out our CWC Staff Chat below. In this session, we discussed the benefits and applications of mindfulness while living with a cancer diagnosis.
If you practice mindfulness regularly, or have attended Introduction to Mindfulness, we invite you to join us for
Sitting Together: Continuing and Building Your Mindfulness Practice With Others on Tuesdays at 10:45 – 11:45 am
