In January there is a MBSR course starting. It’s going to be held online, virtually via zoom. Every MBSR course I have attended brings an international community together. I have had the privilege of being taught by great teachers such as Beth Mulligan and newer teachers, perhaps even their first led class. While a masterful teacher is certainly something to experience, it’s amazing how a new teacher can still have their students experience transformation over the 8-week period of time the course is held. The class has lasting effects.
Why specifically sign up for a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course? It is the most well-researched meditation program in existence, showing results of reducing blood pressure, chronic pain, increasing quality sleep, decreasing stress, among other health benefits.
Additionally, it will improve your relationship with yourself. Teaching you to accept oneself as one currently is, to treat yourself with kindness while still being firm in your commitment. I read somewhere we really only have one relationship. It is how we relate to all people. The most important relationship, the relationship that all others stem from is the relationship we have to ourselves.
The course is held once a week for 2.5 hours. It’s a time commitment. There is homework which oddly enough isn’t like writing a paper or walking 5 miles but rather an invitation to practice doing nothing. Practice just being with yourself in non-doing.
Initially, it can feel really awkward to just be sitting, doing nothing. Especially if you have an attachment to being productive and efficient. Images from the movie Elf come to mind as thoughts like I am sitting here; I am sitting here; nothing is happening; but I am still sitting here; when will this end; I want to move; Oh! I am doing it! I knew I was going to get better at this; oh wait, where are we now? Right, pay attention to my breath….these sorts of thoughts will no doubt come streaming in.
Practicing mindfulness takes time and entering into the experience with a “beginner’s mind” or as I have heard someone say, “arrive dumb” is helpful because starting anything can be uncomfortable.
So why sign up for a class on mindfulness? Commitment has a way of changing us, shaping us. Community invites us to connect with each other and learn from each other. Over the next few days, I’ll share a little more about the value mindfulness can bring to human beings in a world full of human doing.
