mindfulness
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 12:48 pmFinding myself now in the latter part of my 60s I see that a fair proportion of my family and dear friends either now have cancer, have survived well or have sadly died from its effects.
What has been most helpful for me with my own grief and in supporting others have been the skills of mindfulness.
Having also taught Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction courses for some years now, with many carers and supporters attending, it is very apparent that these skills, no matter where we are in relation to the suffering, pain, stress and anxieties, the gentle kindly approach of mindfulness supports us to be more compassionate towards ourselves and our bodies and our unhelpful habits.
These, in particular, refer to an additional suffering that we tend to create in our minds and inflict in addition to the real suffering that we are coping with. There are wide variety of helpful skills from breathing practices, mindful movement and sitting/meditation alongside opening our awareness to how we can live more in the present in order to reframe our relationship to our pain and suffering.
These easily accessible practices can help transform our experience into something that allows more room to escape being brought down and so emotionally drained by our struggle with cancer.
There are many references on the internet and I can recommend the book ‘Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Cancer: Gently Turning Towards’ by Trish Bartley.
I am so pleased that a site like this exists. It offers real support and encouragement to us all.
With Warm Wishes – Chantek Mary McNeilage http://www.becomingmindful.co.uk[color=#0040FF]
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And there is a saying in Buddhism: DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING; SIT THERE!
What has been most helpful for me with my own grief and in supporting others have been the skills of mindfulness.
- mindfulness.jpg (7.42 KiB) Viewed 5606 times
Having also taught Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction courses for some years now, with many carers and supporters attending, it is very apparent that these skills, no matter where we are in relation to the suffering, pain, stress and anxieties, the gentle kindly approach of mindfulness supports us to be more compassionate towards ourselves and our bodies and our unhelpful habits.
These, in particular, refer to an additional suffering that we tend to create in our minds and inflict in addition to the real suffering that we are coping with. There are wide variety of helpful skills from breathing practices, mindful movement and sitting/meditation alongside opening our awareness to how we can live more in the present in order to reframe our relationship to our pain and suffering.
These easily accessible practices can help transform our experience into something that allows more room to escape being brought down and so emotionally drained by our struggle with cancer.
There are many references on the internet and I can recommend the book ‘Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Cancer: Gently Turning Towards’ by Trish Bartley.
- free mind.jpg (3.51 KiB) Viewed 5606 times
I am so pleased that a site like this exists. It offers real support and encouragement to us all.
With Warm Wishes – Chantek Mary McNeilage http://www.becomingmindful.co.uk[color=#0040FF]
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And there is a saying in Buddhism: DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING; SIT THERE!