Back in early 2014, I referenced the slow movement on The Cove blog as my re-entry to the blogging world and bringing mindfulness to those that followed me. You can check out that post here. Last week Costco Connection published its June edition which featured what? You guessed it…the slow movement. Check that out here. Then across my Facebook feed I saw a post from Joanna at A Cup of Jo last week called Trying Out Slow Parenting. Hmmm…I am sensing a pattern. What is this saying about our culture? What are people interested in hearing or knowing more about? I see a desire to slow down. The only person that is going to put the breaks on this fast paced life we live in, a culture of 24/7, is you! Take time and carve out space in your life to just sit and be with no agenda, no place to be, nothing to do. Sounds lovely eh? Not so easy though. I hear lots of excuses – I don’t have time, too much to do, I have kids there is no time for me. Yep…I used to say that too and still do every once in awhile. I promise you though, if you start small and just take those moments as brief as they may be, you will experience a shift. Find a minute in your day that you can carve out to just sit without doing anything else. No phone, no computer, no to do list and just see what happens. You may find your really enjoy it and want more. You may notice that the one minute feels like an eternity. You may notice that during that one minute there are several things that are pressing and you have to just make one more phone call or send one more email. All part of your experience, but just interesting to notice.
The Trouble with Fear
It’s not real people! Yet, every so often this concept escapes me. I have the privilege of doing a training at a large conference next week. I know my content; I have done this before…so why am I freaking out? Plain old fear. Fear of what may or may not happen. Fear that people won’t like me. Fear that it will be a waste of time for folks. Silly yet very real. So as I approach this week and prepare for my workshop, I will do so with the mindset that no matter what happens it is a learning experience. I will remember that as long as I prepare as best I can and stay with the moment while presenting that I am EXACTLY where I need to be in THAT moment. It is also helpful to remember you can please all of the people 100% of the time.
Book recommendations
As part of my efforts to keep you going, I will be inspiring you with books that inspire me. In June, I will begin posting books weekly on Instagram, so be sure to follow me there. Until then here are 5 books that I highly recommend.
Mindfulness in Plain English
A wonderful, easy to understand book that will answer many questions around mindfulness. I use this frequently and go back for clarification and inspiration.
The Mindful Child by Susan Kaiser Greenland
There are some simple practices in here that you can do with children even as young as 3 or 4.
The Conscious Parent by Dr. Shefali Tsabary
This book is transformational. It brings parenting to a new level and it is another book I reference frequently for little doses of inspiration. Be prepared to shift your perspective and see what unfolds when you do.
Less by Marc Lesser
This is a wonderful resource for work and life. Carving space out for life is only up to us. This books supports doing less in a world consistently asking for more. Transform your lifestyle and lead a more meaningful life.
The Way of Mindful Education: Cultivating Well-Being in Teachers and Students by Daniel Rechtschaffen
A fantastic resource for educators and beyond. From the importance of your own practice to practical application with students, this book provides great information. Another book I reference often. I love the resources Daniel provides especially the list of various programs to help bring mindfulness to schools.
Choice as a Path to Change
As I prepare to launch and gather content, I thought I would provide monthly inspirations and stories to keep you going. With Pause is about creating space, cultivating compassion, showing up and being seen.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” -Viktor E. Frankl
One of my favorite quotes and a great visual from Mindful Schools to go with it. I believe in the power of choice, yet I find many people feel they have no choice. My hope is to help others create a space in their lives for that choice and be with the choice. What lies within the choice is an opportunity for change, but having a choice doesn’t always mean it is a desired choice. It may just be the path to get where you desire.
Without Mindfulness: Stimulus → Reaction
With Mindfulness: Stimulus → Mindfulness → Response
(From mindfulschools.org)
