“Mindfulness” = Moment-by-moment awareness of the experience as it is. ~Liz Korabek-Emerson
I don’t know about you, but today I could practice being more mindful. And… every day, every moment, every breath. Recent posts have focused on having difficult conversations amidst the stress of turbulent times, and I thought I’d cut it down a bit and talk about the antidote to stress, which also happens to be a way to calm emotional triggers, find balance, and Regain Power Under Pressure: Mindfulness Meditation.
Practicing mindfulness in turbulent times
Liz Korabek-Emerson, a mindfulness teacher, transformational workshop leader, and creative coach, describes mindfulness as “moment-by-moment awareness of the experience as it is.” I recently attended a mindfulness training with Liz and was reminded of how the mind is always searching for thoughts to focus on. In Liz’s session, my mind settled and returned to the present each time I returned to my breath. I had to go back many times, because my thoughts (always wandering) kept me away. And… that’s the practice.
my mentor Thomas Crum write about the difference between be and do. I am a “doer”: I like to organize and get things done. I’m usually thinking about what’s next on my list before I’ve finished the task at hand. Consequently, I need to practice coming back to the present, a lot!
Even though I meditate daily and teach to focus in my workouts, it still amazes me how constantly my mind is busy.Did I remember to buy those tickets? How should I reply to that email? Will Mom manage while I’m gone? I wish I had kept my mouth shut yesterday! And equally in awe of how bringing back my wandering mind is a constant practice.
I asked Liz if I could reprint an article from her blog that discusses that concern, “I am doing it right?“- which I think we all have when our mind wanders. She graciously said yes.
Enjoy this simple call to be kinder, happier and more connected.And if you’re looking for a powerful centering mindfulness meditation teacher, go find Liz.
the measure of success
for Liz Korabek-Emerson
The measure of our practice’s success is…
Not the number of sessions, or how good we are at it, or how long we sit down (although we still have to show up and do it)
But how kind we are, to ourselves and then to others, how connected we feel to our lives and the people around us, how happy we are happy, not in the sense that “I have everything I wanted for Christmas”, but in the kind of happiness that allows us to be resilient, to recover and continue to be in the natural flow of life, facing difficulties without adding to our burdens . , acknowledging our common humanity and wholeheartedly embracing the joy that falls unexpectedly on our days. In short, happy to be with things as they are; including ourselves, other people and life situations.
Longtime practitioner and teacher Sharon Saltzberg has written that “we don’t watch our breath just to become good breath watchers.” And I think this is true. We observe our breath because it is the basic practice, the vehicle through which we cultivate a focused, open, and flexible mind. But we practice because the world could use more kindness, strength, and clarity.
couldn’t you?