Fenzi Dog Sport Trainer Certificates

Welcome to a sample lecture for UPP – aka Unleash Personal Potential

This lecture is an early one – it is the first lecture after the class starts – after a preamble lecture when you sign up

A Short Treatise on Mindfulness

Mindfulness is comprised of presence. Being conscious of our thoughts, physicality, awareness of surroundings and those around us all combine to increase our awareness of ourselves. Or at least that’s the theory!

Mindfulness is often espoused as a path to peace, calm and serenity.  Often the term meditation is used nearly interchangeably with mindfulness but to my way of looking at it meditation is only one component of being mindful – and one that many people struggle with – one can be mindful without embracing, or even engaging in meditation. (though you might decide to test meditation or work on your practice of it – it certainly is NOT required in this class!)

If we go back to the Buddhist roots of mindfulness you will hear reference to the seven steps to enlightenment.   Much of the work you can do through this course is rooted in these tenants in some way.  The classes you have taken with me delve into many aspects of mindfulness  -if you chose to head down that path.

Physicality – this includes the notion that you can ground yourself, breathe for calmness and clarity that your body is connected to your mind and where we must pay some attention.

Mindfulness of Emotions – This can be uncomfortable – this is the chain of consciousness work  – where thoughts are followed and explored – through dialogue and reflection what can be discovered?

Mindfulness of Thoughts – this connects to and extends the concept you have worked with before – that thoughts are not you – they are guests in your body.  

Mindfulness of Effort – when we work here we look at motivation, goal setting, planning we are including effort as an aspect we must develop.

You will also perhaps recognize other wisdom in the work we have done. My training and interests are diverse and that is reflected in my approach to education, counselling, and facilitation.  

The Four Agreements influenced my thinking, teaching, and counselling long before I read Ruiz’s book.

They resonate with me to this day – and some are very difficult to practice daily! (although interestingly enough different elements are difficult for different people and are hard at different times – when I ask people to participate in public speaking on this – the groups are more often than not quite equally divided on which element is the hardest to put into practice!)

There are positive physical and mental  benefits to practicing mindfulness  and the four agreements but if you’ve ever seen or heard my self-help rant  

https://www.mindful.org/what-is-mindfulness/ (meditation as mindfulness)

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cui-bono/201012/agreeing-the-four-agreements  (an article about the Ruiz book)

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/30-simple-mindfulness-practices-to-help-you-focus-and-be-present/  (ways to embed mindfulness into life routines) 

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/5-beliefs-anxiety-can-actually-cause-anxiety/ (anxiety and mindfulness)