Introduction to Mindfulness and NVC

John Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as:

‘Awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.’

At a very difficult emotional period in my life, my sister in law, Terry, sent me this link to a talk by John Kabat-Zinn. I researched the training programs and not long after I became a practitioner and facilitator of the Mindfulness Based Stress reduction (MBSR) program which increased my capacity to self-regulate the disharmony and stress that I was experiencing and find a pathway to peace that wasn’t reliant on anything being perfect!

I spent many hours meditating (often lying down) through the crises that seemed all consuming. It was a turning point where I was able to embrace the practices and turn towards what was calling out for attention. As with most lives, I have lived a good dose of love, heartache and disconnection which has shaped and pushed me to reach out to learn, to discover ways to mourn and live into celebrating this precious life… in all its colours, beauty and chaos.

While the mindfulness was a great way to stop…

The tools of Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication (NVC) helped open up another pathway to a field of compassionate listening and communicating (and a wonderful community of friends and colleagues!)  The Ongo: Everyday Nonviolence program was a beautiful combination of Mindfulness and NVC which offered me yet another balm for healing and a very real and practical means for everyday nonviolence and peace.

The poet, Rumi, wrote,

‘Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing, and right-doing, there is a field. I will meet you there.’

It is my wish that I live my life in mindful presence and love… in that field beyond the ideas of right and wrong.