Sorry to go missing for the summer - I seemed to have taken a writing-free vacation! But I'm trying to ease myself back into communicating with the outside world . So let's get (re-)started....

There has been a lot of talk about mindfulness this days and lots of expensive courses to teach you "how to do it".

Why is this approach so popular and is it worth the time to learn and practice it?

I'm going to suggest that yes, it is. And that's because practicing mindfulness gives your brain a chance to allow old, less useful/unproductive "thought ruts" to weaken and change. That means you're less likely to just automatically go down the same old thought and feeling-roads you may be taking that cause you distress.

I've had a couple of posts on this topic in the past, but I recently received an email about a free introduction to mindfulness -- and since courses can be so darn expensive -- free looked like a good thing to share with you.

It's soon, but there's still time to let the presenters know you're interested. I'm (with their permission) just going to share the exact content of their notice. Since I'm not affiliated with these folks, please do get back to them directly if you're interested. (But do feel free to say you found out about it here!)

Here we go:

MINDFULNESS: ANCIENT WISDOM FOR MODERN TIMES

Friday, September 26, 2008  12 Noon EST to 12:59 PM or 9 AM PST

WORKSHOP LEADERS:  Alice Rose and Sheila Bissonnette

Do you feel like emotions run your life sometimes?

Do you regret your actions, and then regret your regrets?

Do you struggle to make decisions?

Would you like to feel more peace of mind as a daily baseline?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR YOU!

In this one-hour workshop, you will learn the simple but effective principles of basic mindfulness that are powerful tools for increasing happiness.

You will learn:

The three states of mind

Emotion Mind

Logical Mind

Wise Mind

The “What” Skills of Mindfulness

Observe

Describe

Participate

The “How” Skills of Mindfulness

Non-Judgmentally

One-Mindfully

Effectively

About your workshop leaders:

Alice Rose is a social worker in Oregon who has worked teaching adolescents and adults the principles of mindfulness as part of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (as developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan) since 1998.  Her main qualification for this work is her repeated participation in ten-day silent mindfulness retreats in order to increase credibility with her clients, oh and also to learn how to take hold of her own mind.

Sheila Bissonette is a part time part time grants manager and part time workshop presenter in Atlanta, GA.  After 20 years of working with people to help them with life’s basic necessities (food, clothes & housing), she has now turned to helping people recognize and appreciate all that is good in them and the world. 

TUITION:  These teleclasses are free. You pay only for the long distance charges to our bridge (conference) number.

TO REGISTER:  E-mail your registration to Sheila at sbissonnette@mindspring.com

If you can not make this workshop and are interested in a future one, please let us know by e-mailing us.

Place the word “MINDFULNESS” on the subject line. Please include in the body of your e-mail:  1) your full name, 2) your e-mail address, 3) your day time and evening telephone numbers.

In response to your e-mail, you will receive confirmation of your registration and the bridge number.

We look forward to working with you!!  PLEASE PASS ALONG THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TO ANY FRIENDS YOU THINK WOULD BE INTERESTED

QUESTIONS??  Contact Alice at alice@larchmountain.com  or Sheila at sbissonnette@mindspring.com