Anchored in Peace
Danielle Conforti, Certified Mindfulness & MeditationTeacher and Trauma Aware Breath Facilitator
What is Mindfulness?
Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a pioneer of the secular Mindfulness movement defines mindfulness as:
“the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally”.
This means being aware of your body, thoughts, and emotions with curiosity so that you may begin to relate to yourself and those around you better. As you practice mindfulness you will notice that you start tuning in to what is happening inside you and around you. You are getting to know yourself better, I mean, you might as well, you have to live with yourself for the rest of your life!
Today, more than ever, we need resources and tools that enable us to pause, settle, and find balance and a sense of peace in our day.
Mindfulness in the classroom
We are asked from the time we are children to pay attention.
Additionally, we begin to understand what’s happening within us, our thoughts and emotions. By learning to pay attention to these things we start to realize that we do not have to get carried away by strong emotions or react to situations in ways we wish we hadn’t.
This present-moment awareness allows us an opportunity to pause, notice, and then respond. It is the moment of recognition, where we get to decide how to proceed, rather than impulsively act. It is an empowering practice for both adults and children.
Yet has anyone ever taught you how to pay attention? Mindfulness is attention and awareness training. Through mindfulness practice, we learn how to pay attention using our senses.
