Let it Flow

Last week I had the opportunity to take a week long workshop on Cape Cod called Mindful Meditation: Reclaiming our Natural Talents and Well-Being. The course was offered through the Cape Cod Institute and was the first class I’ve taken through this organization. The class was taught by Michael Carroll, a coach, human resource professional and practicing Buddhist.

While the description was well written and I had a good idea of what I would learn during the week, I really didn’t know what to expect. Would I be “zenned” out all week? Would I learn something practical? Would the instructor be down to earth or high in the sky? As I walked into the classroom on the first day, I made a purposeful intention to let go of any expectations. No matter what I was going to learn something. And boy did I.

Much of what I learned I have already experienced. What made this week so great was that I now have a foundation for everything I say and do.

The instructor was very down to earth and an every day guy. He did not show up in a funky robe, he did not speak in a language I couldn’t understand, he did not preach about how Mindful Meditation is the way of the world and the only path to true enlightenment. He was very real about the societal issues we face today and recognized they aren’t going away anytime soon. He taught us that Mindful Meditation is a useful tool to help manage the “craziness” we experience at home and at work IF WE CHOOSE TO PRACTICE IT.

Since I have returned home, I have practiced regularly.

Class started each day with a 20 minute meditation - that panicked a lot of class participants! He noted that in a very humorous way. The effects of the meditation on the rest of my day were quite amazing. I felt I had more time in my day, I noticed that I didn’t stress out about having to be here or there (which is something I do on vacation) and overall I felt more relaxed physically.

I want to share the basic ideas I took away from this workshop. The things Michael Carroll said that really made me think about how I live each day of my life.

What is Mindful Meditation? It’s a simple sitting practice. You sit in a chair and breathe. The purpose is to sit and when you notice that your mind is flooded with thoughts, label that as “thinking” and become aware of your breathing. That’s it. There is no focus on getting rid of thoughts, it’s just about noticing them and coming back to the present. According to my instructor: Mindful Meditation is about strengthening the ability to be here. For instructions on how to practice mindful meditation click here.

Efforting - We are always focused on achieving something (be wealthy, skinny, have the nicest car), we want to achieve it FAST, and once we arrive we want to be someone else (Skinnier, wealthier, happier). WOW I remember thinking. We want to get from point A to point B quickly instead of skillfully. When we arrive skillfully our sanity remains in tact.

Fun Fact (shared by the instructor): 8 out of 10 Americans imagine they are someone else when making a large purchase.

Guilt and Worry - Guilt is about being stuck the past. Things that have already happened and we cannot change. The instructor said guilt is used to get out of responsibility, avoid moving forward and is in fact cowardly. Worry, on the other hand, is about the future. We create our own stories of things that haven’t happened and we believe them!

Living in Fear (worry)- We live in fear instead of allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. Being vulnerable means we are willing to take risks, make mistakes, learn and grow. When was the last time you allowed yourself to be vulnerable? I allowed myself to be vulnerable this week and it felt freeing and empowering all at the same time.

Panic - By panicking we are asking ourselves “Will I be ok?”. When it seems our lives are not working out, we resist. The irony is the more we try to protect ourselves the more we provoke what we’re trying to avoid.

The bottom line: Mindful meditation helps bring you back to the present. It helps “boycott” the voices in your head that might confuse you, the voices that produce worry and guilt. It’s challenging and it’s a lifelong practice that can reap extreme rewards.

The week that has passed since my workshop has been an eye opening one for me. I’ve been practicing the meditation and reviewing what I’ve learned. I’m able to apply the teachings to my own life, and it has really opened my eyes. I want to continue learning about this practice because after only 1 week I have felt tremendous benefits on how I think, live and make decisions. I’ve become very aware of when I’m fretting about the future (a lot!) and work to bring myself back to what’s happening now. It’s challenging and I’m ready for it.

Want to learn more? Here are a few resources for further learning:

www.awakeatwork.net - the website of the class instructor Michael Carroll
www.shambhalaboston.org - Boston based center offering classes and talks on mindful meditation
www.shambhala.org - a website dedicated to the study of Shambhala and mindful meditation. Offers information and center locations around the world.

Already have experience with Mindful Meditation practices? I’d love to hear about it.

Tags: Stress, Yoga and Meditation //