Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Mindful Living?
First, Mindful Living is not about being positive. That's called Spiritual Bypassing. It's about being present with yourself and others. Nonjudgmentally. We make decisions moment by moment. A conscious unbiased decision requires clear, nonjudgmental observation and choice. This is called executive function. It means we are accessing the executive center of the brain. We are not reacting from fear, emotions or conditioning. Though when there is trauma we may override this function. We are learning to skillfully reason and observe our decision making process. If we are impatient, we are not in executive function. The mind is the regulator. We learn to renew the mind first and then observe possible actions before taking them. It's an intentional Pause before action. This is with food, relationships, self-care, work, everything.... Who is it designed for? Anyone, age 18 or older, seeking greater understanding of mind, free will, mindful living, skillfulness in relationships, and enjoyment of life. Will this program qualify for training funded through my workplace? Check with your HR department. If decision making, problem solving, stress management, customer & employee relations, productivity, focus, creativity, understanding implicit bias, resiliency, physical and mental health are important to your organization, then your employer may fund some or all of this education and training. If you are self-employed, this program may qualify as a business expense. It’s best to check with your CPA. I am choosing this program for my personal development. Do I need to apply it outside of myself? Our lives connect to everything we are engaged in directly or indirectly. The impact will effect your overall health, family and other relations, and all dimensions of your life. It is fine to think of this as support for your life journey and see where it takes you. Curiosity and being willing to act is the essential first step. What if I need a pause during the online Program or the immersion? You are completely in charge of how you spend your time and energy during all of the education & training. Suggestions are made but you may make your own choice. The immersion is designed to provide an experience of flow, challenges, and opportunities to reset. As your skill builds from the online program before the immersion, you will have integrative circuits in your physiology to choose what is best for you. Rest or pause is encouraged in the training space. During a retreat, if you need to go for a walk, or elsewhere you are free to make the choice you feel is best. This program will help you learn not to abandon yourself, your intentions, or goals. The retreat schedule is similar to what you would experience at Insight Meditation Society, Spirit Rock, and other retreat centers. It is not the usual kind of vacation! Many pause periods are included in the curriculum both the online program and throughout retreats. Mindful pausing is an essential part of this learning. What if I feel I'm not ready for the course now but want this development? If you're not ready for this particular program then stay in touch until you feel ready. email [email protected] for a link to a safe private portal where you can rest and receive some simple yet powerful practices to support your healing and readiness to till the inner landscape. I've had some not so stable and deeply painful times in my life and understand the wise choice for a different pace or better time for growth. The program allows, and encourages, adjustments based on personal needs, your energy level, and other individual factors. Do I need previous mindbody experience? No, in fact, previous learning can sometimes inhibit this new way of learning. If you are already full of a different approach, there may be an emptying process to create space for new learning. Most important is that you are curious with a healthy dose of skepticism. Research shows this is most important for best results. Commit to the program, do the practices, and then assess your results in a few weeks. MindBodyBeing Integration occurs with ease if we are open, curious, and follow the simple instructions. If we fight or judge and uproot the practice looking for results too soon we create struggle and inhibit new learning. Because of your direct experiences inside yourself during the program, you will learn to Trust that you have everything you need right now. The "new you" will become visible from inside and in your behaviors as conditioning is removed and the lens of self observation is polished. In this program, we learn to develop our inner resources. What is conditioning? Conditioning includes beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. It is a kind of programming. Conditioning is rooted in family, generational, cultural, racial, gender, media ... anything that has influenced us. Conditioning impacts how we perceive ourselves, other humans, the manifest world, and our spirituality. What is the difference between Education & Training? Education provides information and facilitates cognitive understanding. Training is the application of education. You may think of education as head knowledge while training is the embodiment of the knowledge. Mindful Living programs include education & training. What age group does best with Mindful Living practices? I taught aspects of this program in higher education to students as young as age 17. I taught officer candidates in the US Navy who were college graduates age 21+. I taught in corporate and community settings to diverse groups of people with a wide age range and life experience. Curiosity and willingness to do the practices is key. My interest is transformation and spiritual enlightenment. MLS programs strengthen the foundation for enlightenment or spiritual awakening that is a natural unfolding like a flower blooming. The program provides skills for the experience and embodiment of transformation. To become spiritually conscious we learn to be present with Presence. While this is our natural state, most humans have a conditioned covering that convinces them that awakening is difficult or unattainable. Spiritual awakening makes us more real and authentic. It is not a state that removes us from the world. We are awake or conscious of our True Nature. As we are present and refrain from judgment we discern and act according to our highest values aligned with our core beliefs that may be unity through diversity. I don't care about the spiritual stuff. I want a healthy mind and body. No problem. Most important is to stay aligned with your inner clarity and discernment as you explore this learning. The spiritual aspect is the ripe fruit that naturally comes from MindBodyBeing Integration. Spiritual means you experience a sense of belongingness as a member of the human family, kindness towards yourself and others, the ability to rest and not carry burdens. Spiritual doesn't mean looking for a higher power outside. Spiritual awakening is discovering this power is inside. Again, it's fine if this isn't of interest. I have body pain. Will this help me? Research indicates it can. You may want to look at the work of John Sarna, MD, a pain specialist. After many years treating patients for back pain he discovered pain in rooted in unresolved emotion. Executive function allows us to nonjudgmentally observe perceived pain and to begin to identify with the witnessing process. As mindful observation becomes steady the relationship to pain changes. Research indicates that we tend to armor or resist physical & emotional pain. Armoring causes less blood flow and delays healing. Cultivating a kind relationship with the body will facilitate healing. Those who practice report their relationship to pain changes. Sometimes the pain decreases or heals completely. I need to better understand how to clear any implicit bias. Will this help? The integrative practices begin to clear conditioning. Conditioning is unconscious. As we are able to nonjudgmentally observe ourselves we learn to clear the energy expression of bias. We stop judging others. Office Address:
Midlands, SC 29169 USA |
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