“Mindfulness” = The moment-by-moment awareness of 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 regaining power under pressure: mindfulness meditation.
Practicing mindfulness in turbulent times
Liz Korabek-Emerson, mindfulness teacher, transformational workshop leader, and creative coach, describes mindfulness as “moment-to-moment awareness of experience as it is.” I recently attended a mindfulness training with Liz and was reminded of how the mind is always looking for thoughts to focus on. In Liz’s session, my mind settled down and came back to the present each time I returned to the 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 focus in my workouts, it still amazes me how my mind is constantly busy.Did I remember to buy those tickets? How should I respond to that email? Will mom do okay while I’m gone? I wish I had kept my mouth shut yesterday! And equally amazed at how bringing back my wandering mind is a constant practice.
I asked Liz if I could reprint an article from her blog that speaks to that concern, “I am doing it right?“- which I think we all have when the mind wanders. She kindly said yes.
Enjoy this simple call to be kinder, happier, and more connected.And if you’re looking for a powerful, focused 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 (although we still have to show up and do it)
But in how kind we are, with ourselves and then with others, how connected we feel with 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, 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 unexpectedly falls on our days. In short, happy to be with things as they are; including ourselves, other people and life situations.
Sharon Saltzberg, a longtime practitioner and teacher, has written that “we don’t watch our breath just to become good breath watchers.” And I think this is true. We watch 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?
