Mindfulness for action

If you’re in service of others as an educator, activist, change-maker, it’s not news that stress, compassion fatigue and burnout can be close at hand. It’s all-too-common to live with these conditions. We accept them as the price we pay for doing what we know is just and right. Never mind the increasing exhaustion, mood swings, and chronic health issues. Pushing beyond healthy limits because “hey – I’ve made it this far!”, neglects the very thing that helps us to help others and the planet: ourselves.

If we put time into self-care and resourcing ourselves, we quickly see changes and realise that there is a win-win in both driving for change and staying resourced to keep going. We can still effect change the world, and we can do it with more ease and even some enjoyment.

Mindfulness is a tool to do just this. You don’t have to take my word for it. Tons of mindfulness research backs this up. The simple act of being consistently present is soothing, regenerating, gives perspective and so a greater sense of freedom. It helps us stay focused, gives perspective, supports constructive actions and builds emotional resilience.

Here’s what I believe:

• “Awareness is revolutionary” - training in mindfulness resources and nourishes us, and helps us make wiser choices for ourselves, others and the planet.

• Most of us can train in mindfulness - awareness is an innate capacity that can be cultivated to enhance our wellbeing.

• We need to pay urgent attention to regulating the nervous system – if not we will be at the mercy of our hard-wired, stress-reactive biology and psychology.

• The mindfulness journey is a rich adventure - there is power and significance in discovering the heights and depths of our minds.

• Guidance comes best in the form of real people - it helps to learn directly from people who can get to know us.

• It all starts right here - with this breath, with this heart, and what is arising in the body and mind right now.

I offer a journey from overwhelm to EASE:

1. Embodiment – connect with your body, again and again. Do a 20-30 min body scan every day, mindful movement such as yoga, tai chi or mindful walking.

2. Awareness – bring attention to your experience by just stopping and paying attention. Mindfulness meditation every day, 20 mins + mindfulness in everyday life – choose an activity which you will do ‘mindfully’ every day + mindfulness breaks throughout the day, at least 3 x 3mins

3. Sensitivity of responses to strong events, good and challenging, noticing where you feel them in the body, what thoughts and emotions are associated with them. Journal about these at the end of each day.

4. Empathy and understanding – bringing kindness and compassion to everyday life, especially stressful situations, and to other people. Bring kindness to challenging situations.