Your Stories

When did you first start practicing mindfulness and why were you motivated to do so?

In 1994 Jon Kabat-Zinn’s, Wherever You Go There You Are, was recommended by The Institute of Noetic Sciences.  Intrigued by the title and out of curiosity I bought it and worked through it.  Since that time I have tinkered on and off with mindfulness practice. My most consistent efforts have been through yoga.  It was not until I began my Naropa University Contemplative Education Master’s degree in 2008 that I began to consistently practice.

Did you take a class? If so, what sort of a class did you take?

I self-explored for many years then found myself immersed at Naropa. Each Naropa faculty brought a unique perspective to awareness, mindfulness, presence and meditation. Naropa is where I began to understand and experience mindfulness.

Mindfulness is something that is hard to teach—it must be experienced.

How has mindfulness made a difference in your life?

I am more aware of many aspects of my environment, my reactions, others and myself around me.  I can feel and sense emotions rising and can better look at them with curiosity and choice rather than with unaware engagement. This is not all the time of course, but more often than before. Even when I do find myself reacting, rather than responding, I am aware of it and can look at the situation more nonjudgmentally rather than beat myself up.

I also allow “stuck times” to have their space too. I used to feel anxious, restless or bored when I couldn’t figure out what to do next or how to fill empty time to be productive. Mindfulness has helped me honor all feelings not just the ones I judge as “good.”

What do you do for your livelihood (e.g., homemaker, teacher, firefighter) and does your practice of mindfulness affect that?