The Guest House by Jalal al-Din Rumi
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Mindfulness is the action of focused and sustained awareness of each moment and to be non-judgmentally present in that moment. Using mindfulness meditation techniques, we can learn to regulate and focus our attention and energy and enhance our positive experience of our mind, body, the world around us, and our relationships. Mindfulness is about being present and alive, in a multifaceted integration of our experience. Mindfulness is also about acceptance and compassion. Through training and practice, we are capable of expanding our capacity to bring realization, regulation, transformation, and enhanced relationship with ourselves and our world.
Mindfulness meditation approaches have been shown to be effective in reducing stress and anxiety, helping with emotional regulation, becoming less critical and compassionate of ourselves and other people, and useful in enhancing personal relationships. Research has shown mindfulness to be beneficial in the reduction of unhealthy symptoms, effecting improvement in biological indicators of health, and making positive changes in the brain.
As a long time mindfulness practitioner and participant in the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, I can help individuals and groups learn and apply mindfulness techniques. Techniques focus on becoming more aware of our body, of our feelings, of our mind, and of how the mind works. These can include techniques such as mindful breathing, sensory body scanning, guided imagery, and mindful movement. Training can be done on an individual basis, in small group settings, and with a focus on organizations. These will be individualized and tailored to meet your needs. Please let me know how I can be of help.
