Introduction
This week we will learn the fundamentals of interpersonal mindfulness—applying awareness and presence at times when communication becomes difficult or fraught with strong emotions.
Theme – Stressful Communication & Interpersonal Mindfulness
If we reflect we might find that many of the most truly stressful situations in our life involve other people. This week, we focus on communication and what it means to be mindful in our interactions with others, whether it be family members, co-workers or neighbours.
Our focus up until now has been on our personal internal world of sensations, feelings and thoughts. This week sees us move from the intra-personal to the inter-personal, taking into account other’s worlds. This means recognising that “the other” (person or persons) have their own perceptions, feelings and needs, which are usually different to our own.
Informal practices this week
Informal practice this week involves bring awareness to moments of reacting and responding, particularly in regard to communication, but also in regard to the events of life.
Remember that the breath is an anchor, a way to heighten awareness of reactive tendencies, to slow down and make more conscious choices.
Note where you were able to use the centering breath to help you move from reacting to responding.
In addition, one day this week do the Mountain Meditation.
Take 5 minutes each day to use your informal practice record to keep a track of your moments.
Formal practices this week
For the formal practice this week, do the Sitting Meditation recording on alternate days, and between those sessions choose for yourself whether to do the Body Scan or the standing mindful movement practice recording.