Wendy J. Salz - Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice that helps us remain present in the small moments of our lives. We learn how to become aware of the present moment and accept it without judgment. People tend to create their own suffering by pushing away thoughts and feelings that bother them or by grasping onto things they long for. Often we believe that life will be better when we lose 20 pounds or when we meet the man or woman of our dreams. We spend so much time in "if only" that we miss what is happening right now. Typically we move through our days not even noticing what's around us because we're so caught up in our routine and we miss so much of our lives.

One path to mindfulness is meditation. Meditation helps us quiet the incessant chatter in our minds. We call this a practice because the more we do it, the more we are able to actually stay present even when not meditating.

Mindfulness has been practiced for over 2500 years. Today more and more people are becoming aware of this simple (but not easy) technique. It has been shown to be effective for people struggling with depression, weight loss, and relationship issues along with many other issues that bring them to therapy. Research has proven that mindfulness meditation can even affect the way you use your brain and it can strengthen the immune system.

"True compassion arises from a healthy sense of self, from an awareness of who we are that honours our own capacities and fears, our own feelings and integrity, along with those of others."

Jack Kornfield

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