A Step By Step Guide To Mindful Living
The 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program was created by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD in 1979 at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, and since that time, thousands of people have participated in MBSR courses offered around the world, including leading medical centers such as Duke, Stanford and Harvard. MBSR is a step by step guide to mindful living that teaches you how to gain a greater sense of balance and resilience.
Over the past three decades, extensive research has shown the effectiveness of MBSR. Research shows that most people who complete this type of course find:
- An increased ability to relax
- Greater energy and enthusiasm for life
- Powerful resources for coping with stress and uncertainty
- Enhanced stability in the midst of difficult situations
- Increased clarity and creative thinking
- Reductions in pain levels and/or an enhanced ability to cope with pain that may not go away
This is by no means an exhaustive list of benefits. I have attended two intensive professional trainings on MBSR and they have been instrumental in my personal and professional growth. These trainings have transformed how I manage stress and have given me effective tools to help myself and others.
Mindfulness has an ever growing body of research, regular media coverage and attention from technology leaders, such as Google. With this kind of attention, one would think that more insurance companies, businesses, universities and hospitals would make this kind of self-care a priority in our fast-paced and stressed-out world. While there have been major strides in spreading the practice of mindfulness, I’m continually amazed at the number of healthcare professionals who are unaware of the benefits to mindfulness. MBSR teaches us how to use the power of our mind, body, and awareness to promote health and well-being. I am hopeful that more healthcare professionals will learn these skills, so they can avoid burnout and compassion fatigue. If helpers take better care of themselves, then they will take better care of the people they serve.
I want to thank all of the teachers from The Center for Mindfulness who have inspired me to teach and practice mindfulness-meditation. A special thanks to Jon Kabat-Zinn, Saki Santorelli EdD, Bob Stahl, PhD, Lynn Korbel, MPH, Lindsay Bridges, MD, and Adi Bemak MEd, for the unwavering devotion and integrity they bring to teaching mindfulness. While I have not worked with Tara Brach, PhD directly, I have been inspired by her talks, books and professional trainings on mindfulness-meditation.
If you are interested in learning more about MBSR please come to one of my FREE upcoming orientation sessions. There will be three 1.5 hour sessions that will be offered July 30th, August 13th and September 10th. To learn more or to find out how to attend, click HERE.
