The term “mindfulness” gets thrown around a lot these days, but what does it really mean?
Mindfulness is a process of non-judgmental awareness of the present moment. It sounds deceptively simple, but most of us know how elusive it can be! Thoughts, feelings, and memories often pull our attention into the past or future, keeping us from fully connecting with what is happening in the here and now. We also often try to distract ourselves from uncomfortable experiences in the present moment, so we do not have to face our present discomfort. Mindfulness helps us reorient toward the present moment and helps us build skills for directing our focus and attention and accepting the fullness of our experience.
Meditation
Meditation is one tool that can help us in regaining these skills, but it is often unclear where to begin and what the purpose of meditation truly is. Meditation is about developing true awareness of your current experience in all its facets, which may sometimes even be unpleasant. Meditation is not about calming or self-soothing, although that may be a consequence of the practice. The tools of meditation allow us to engage with our experiences with directness and acceptance, rather than trying to change or distract ourselves from our true moment to moment experiences.
While this may be hard at first, research into meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction shows that over time mindfulness tools break the anxiety cycle that distraction and avoidance keep us stuck in and allow us to feel more grounded and content in our lives. Not only that, but evidence from Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Dr. Dean Ornish, and others have proven that meditation is an important part of protocols for improving physical symptoms as well as emotional ones.
Getting Started
It can often be challenging to know where to start, so I created a series on Mindfulness and Insight Meditation for the LGBTQIA+ Community. Join me for a six-week introduction to mindfulness and insight meditation practices specifically created for the LGBTQIA+ community. The practices we will explore together are gentle and approachable for first time meditators and designed to foster clarity, self-compassion, and inner peace.
Each 60-minute class will provide instruction, short practice sessions, and time for questions and discussion. This series is perfect for anyone who has a curiosity about meditation about would like clear structure to begin, for those with high levels of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm, and for those who have trouble focusing on the present. Absolutely no experience is required, and Captain will guide and support you every step of the way.
I created this course after a decades-long journey with mindfulness and meditation, finding it to be the best anchor in my darkest moments, as well as a balancing practice in my brightest ones. These practices, originating from eastern Buddhist traditions, have been used for thousands of years to help people just like you and me find centered awareness and space to reconnect and ground themselves into the present moment.
Please reach out if you have any questions or would like to join the next group and I will be happy to speak with you: Book consultation
