Counseling Center

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is woven throughout all services at the counseling center because it is so effective at building mental health, increasing focus, and has positive effects on physical health as well. Mindfulness can become a mindset, with practice. “Mindfulness isn’t difficult. We just need to remember to do it.”- Sharon Salzburg

Mindfulness is paying attention in the present moment.

Here are a couple mindful exercises you can try, the exercises can provide a little “reset” for you:

1)  Cover your eyes with your hands or close them.  When you open your eyes, turn your head to a different position.  Notice what you see now that you did not see before.

2)  Take three steady and even breaths.  Notice where you feel your breath in your body, and pay attention as you go back to normal breathing.

3)  As you are walking outside or in a building, notice how many colors you see.  Listen for sounds and see how many different sounds you can pick up with your ears.

Meditation

Meditation is the practice of mindfulness and intentionally bringing the mind back to the preset moment as you are sitting/ laying/ standing/ walking and alert.  The human mind is made for thinking and wandering, when we are meditating, we are focusing (anchoring) and gently, bringing our attention back to the focus of breathing or a sensation or a focal point, without judgement and without criticizing yourself.  Science is telling us that a few minutes a day is helpful.

Videos to further your mindfulness and meditation practice

Learning to Surf video with Jack Kornfield

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”- Jack Kornfield

All it takes is 10 Mindful Minutes, Andy Puddicombe, TED talk

Meditation for Beginners