Mindfulness for Meeting Ourselves and The World Pt. 3

The past few years have been challenging on many fronts. Though mindfulness cannot change ‎the outside factors that shape our experience, it can help transform how we respond to the ‎difficulties that we face. By learning to rely on our own inner resources, we can regain a sense ‎of control that helps us to be better able to meet the challenges of everyday life. ‎

Mindfulness has been defined as "the awareness that emerges through paying attention on ‎purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally, to things as they are." With mindfulness ‎we can learn how to relate differently to thoughts, feelings and body sensations and therefore ‎how to better understand the nature of our minds and bodies. We can start to release from an ‎identification with the self, which can then lead to improved mental health, freedom, ‎compassion and joy. Mindfulness has been shown, amongst other things, to improve attentional ‎focus and cognitive flexibility, to reduce affective reactivity, to create modifications or shifts ‎away from distorted or exaggerated self-view, and to improve psychological stress and well-‎being.‎

This 3-session course will involve experiential and educational components, including guided ‎meditations, findings from the literature on mindfulness, and time for discussion and questions. ‎The sessions will incorporate teachings on mindfulness of the breath and body, mindfulness of ‎emotions, compassion towards self and others, the RAIN technique, and bringing your ‎mindfulness practice into the world. The course is open to all practitioners, from those who ‎have no previous mindfulness exposure to experienced meditators. All that is asked is that you ‎bring an open mind and heart. Each session will build on the previous one, so attending all ‎three is of cumulative benefit, but individuals are welcome to drop in for single sessions.‎

NOTE ON CME CREDIT: This course consists of sequential sessions on Thursday, Friday, and ‎Saturday, labelled in the program as parts 1, 2 and 3. CME credit is available independently for ‎each of 0.75 CME hours; attend all three for a total of 2.25 CME hours. You are not obliged to ‎attend all three to earn CME credit.‎

References: ‎
‎1. Segal, Z. V., Williams, M., & Teasdale, J. (2018). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for ‎depression: Guilford Publications.‎
‎2. Kornfield, J. (2009). The wise heart: A guide to the universal teachings of Buddhist ‎psychology: Bantam.‎
‎3. Brach, T. (2012). True refuge: finding peace and freedom in your own awakened heart (1st ‎ed.). New York: Bantam Books.‎
‎4. Jha, A. P., Krompinger, J., & Baime, M. J. (2007). Mindfulness training modifies subsystems of ‎attention. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci, 7(2), 109-119. doi:10.3758/cabn.7.2.109‎
‎5. Moore, A., & Malinowski, P. (2009). Meditation, mindfulness and cognitive flexibility. ‎Conscious Cogn, 18(1), 176-186. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2008.12.008‎
‎6. Britton, W. B., Shahar, B., Szepsenwol, O., & Jacobs, W. J. (2012). Mindfulness-based ‎cognitive therapy improves emotional reactivity to social stress: results from a randomized ‎controlled trial. Behav Ther, 43(2), 365-380. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2011.08.006‎
‎7. Teasdale, J. D., Moore, R. G., Hayhurst, H., Pope, M., Williams, S., & Segal, Z. V. (2002). ‎Metacognitive awareness and prevention of relapse in depression: empirical evidence. J Consult ‎Clin Psychol, 70(2), 275-287. doi:10.1037//0022-006x.70.2.275‎
‎8. Goyal, M., Singh, S., Sibinga, E. M., Gould, N. F., Rowland-Seymour, A., Sharma, R., . . . ‎Haythornthwaite, J. A. (2014). Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: a ‎systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med, 174(3), 357-368. ‎doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018‎