By Dr. Ron Passfield
2024 – March 2024 – February 2024 – January 2023 – December 2023 – November 2023 – October 2023 – September 2023 – August 2023 – July 2023 – June 2023 – May 2023 – April 2023 – March 2023 – February 2023 – January 2022 – December 2022 – November 2022 – October 2022 … Continue reading “Archive – Grow Mindfulness”
Johann Hari, in his book Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression, identified seven social causes of depression including the loss of connection to other people. One of the surprising findings in his discussions with researchers and his colleagues, was the link between obesity, childhood trauma and depression. In the final analysis, collectively they established that … Continue reading “Disconnection from Childhood Trauma: A Potential Determinant of Depression and Ill-Health”
Brian Shiers suggests that underpinning mindfulness is self-observation, the foundation of self-awareness. This means, in effect, that there is no one right way to meditate – that paying attention to and noticing ourselves, in whatever way, is essentially mindfulness. While there is a tendency for people new to meditation to judge themselves against a presumed … Continue reading “Mindfulness as Self-Observation”
Much of the time we are reactive because of our ingrained habituated responses. These develop over time and can vary with different stimuli – a confronting email, a perception of criticism by a partner or colleague, thoughtlessness by another person or traffic delays. Our responses may be precipitated by negative thoughts that generate emotions such … Continue reading “Develop Equanimity to Overcome Reactivity”
In the previous post I explored Johann Hari’s discussion of the research demonstrating that disconnection from meaningful values – expressed as obsession with materialism – leads to depression and anxiety. In this post I will explore the reasons why this occurs. Four reasons why meaningless values lead to depression In identifying why materialism leads to … Continue reading “Reasons Why Meaningless Values Lead to Depression”
Following the mass shootings in the US, Diana Winston provided a meditation podcast on the topic, Finding Refuge in Difficult Times. Diana suggests that we could turn to meditation in these difficult times when we are confronted with senseless violence, international conflict over trade and territories and increased levels of uncertainty and vulnerability. Mindfulness meditation … Continue reading “Meditation: A Refuge in Difficult Times”
Much of the focus in the resources on mindfulness is on ways to help people who are suffering from conditions that are debilitating such as mental illness or chronic pain. Very little of the resources focus on ways to help carers in their role – ways to manage the physical and psychological toll of caring … Continue reading “Carers Need Self-Care”
Matthew Brensilver, in a guided meditation provided through MARC UCLA, emphasises the essential character of attention and its role in building our inner and outer awareness while contributing to a life that is fully lived. In his preliminary discussion as an introduction to his meditation on Attention as Our Most Basic Currency, he highlights the … Continue reading “Cultivating Attention Through Mindfulness”
In earlier posts I discussed the healing benefits of nature and the ways that trees can reduce stress. Jill Suttie in her article Why is Nature So Good for Your Mental Health, points to recent research that demonstrates that awe experienced in nature is a source of well-being and decreased symptoms of stress. How then … Continue reading “Ways To Discover the Benefits of Nature”
Dr. Nate Klemp and Eric Langshur provide an interesting perspective on stress management in their article, Being With Stressful Moments Rather Than Avoiding Them. They contend that if we use mindfulness to do away with or avoid stress, we are not being mindful – we are not being with what is. They contend that our … Continue reading “How to Be With Stress Rather Than Avoid It”
