Spring break is a great time to celebrate, well…taking a break! Our culture wears busyness as a badge of honor. But in fact, neuroscience shows that when we are most idle, our brains are most open to inspiration and creativity! So sit back and relax into GREATNESS! http://bit.ly/1UNJQ9X
Journaling can be a relaxing and enjoyable way to cultivate present moment awareness, creativity and self-acceptance. All you need is a pencil, paper, and a little time. http://huff.to/1oXHl90
Gotta love the snow, but the schedule changes and disruption of routines can be very stressful. Mindfulness practice can help us keep focused during these times. Check out the article “Staying Mindful in the Midst of Chaos” for more ideas for how to stay centered and calm through anything.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, a clinical biologist and developer of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, widely regarded as an effective protocol for managing stress, pain, and chronic illness, has written that:
“The future that we want–this is it. This is the future of all the previous thoughts you’ve ever had about the future. You’re in it. You’re already in it. What is the purpose of all this living if it’s only to get some place else… This moment’s as good as any other. It’s perfect.” (Mindfulness for Beginners)
Living in the present moment is at the center of mindfulness practice. Thich Nhat Hanh (“Thay”), Vietnamese Buddhist monk and spiritual leader of the Plum Village Mindfulness Centre, joins Kabat-Zinn as a major proponent of mindfulness throughout the world. Check out the Plum Village Mindfulness Practice Centre Blog for more information, as well as a performance of a song inspired by these words.
The holiday season in the U.S. can be joyful, but also a stressful and chaotic time of year. Why not try to focus on all that you are grateful for and encourage others to do the same?
#MindfulnessMonday