Ta-dah! List

[Beany Boo]

I monitored my reactivity today. There were at least 3 situations where I was reactive (anxious or indignant). Because I was aware, I was less gripped by or stuck in it, and more responsive, even assertive. It was quite humbling to finally find my voice and speak up for myself.

The ta-dah! is my mindfulness meditation is paying off.

[snoringdog]

Hello Beanie,

It been awhile! Your post reminded me of the "Modal Model of Emotion" chart I saw recently in a CBT course, that's been helpful.

It was interesting to see such self-evident ideas put into a linear format, moving from the Situation to your Attention to your Appraisal to your Response, with the evaluations and actions that can be taken at each step.

I should probably make a wallet-sized card for myself

I did make it the background on my desktop....

[Beany Boo]

I just finished an 8 week MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction) course. I can now comfortably meditate for an hour a day. I’m less reactive to others’ stress. I can respond more readily and fully to my own emotions and bodily sensations.

I’m enjoying making less-than-ideal, less-than-perfect decisions routinely now and feeling no ill effects. The majority of people around me give off an affect of being genuinely upset all the time. The meditation makes it clear but also allows me to not automatically absorb it.

I feel slightly more relaxed than when I started but, the course was more about developing brainpower to focus attention mindfully; strengthening those connections and the stress relief that that creates.

I’m trying now to grow kindness and compassion in myself in a way that it’s a salve to dignity, in the face of life, in a way that other people can also safely take in. It’s a bit like jogging; it takes regular practice to open those windows.

The ta-dah! is I have enough trust in the process that I can see it happening.

[rivergirl]

Hi Beany,

I wonder if it's the same course I took, based on the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn. I found it helpful when I took it several years ago.

Great job completing the course and putting it into practice.

rg

[Beany Boo]

Yes, I believe Kabat-Zinn originated it.

[oak]

I can now comfortably meditate for an hour a day.

That is a real accomplishment. Well done. Keep us posted.

[Beany Boo]

Thank you Oak,

I’m definitely seeing benefits from resting my brain; from not ‘efforting’.

[rivergirl]

I'm glad the training has been helpful, Beany. I went back to listen to some of the recordings from my class, and they still resonate with me.

[remarks]

I've been going to the gym every-other day to work out the past two weeks. This is something I fully planned to start doing last year after my weight loss surgery, but COVID kept me scared to set foot in the place. Now that COVID has died down (for now at least), I am in there doing the 30 minute weight machine/cardio workout. I dread getting off the couch and going, but I'm always happy I did it when it's over.

[manuel_moe_g]

Congratulations, Remarks!