majokmindfuleating

Mindfulness and Meditation

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/mindfulness-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-uk-edition.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/02/09/7-ways-meditation-can-actually-change-the-brain/

http://www.stephenbatchelor.org/index.php/en/the-art-of-meditation

http://www.mindful.org/mindful-magazine

Do As One—Universal Breathing Rooms (Try the 13 Grand Intentions)

http://doasone.com

In favor of Doing Nothing

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/?_r=1

http://zenhabits.net/the-art-of-doing-nothing/

http://www.mindful.org/mindful-magazine/achieve-more-by-doing-less

Storytelling

https://nutsandboltsspeedtraining.com/storytelling-tips/

Stories work well when you want to motivate, persuade, inspire or be remembered.  They can result in a better understanding of the key points you wish to make and enable better recall of these points weeks later.

When you are choosing stories keep these suggestions in mind.

•  Why should I care about the idea you are proposing?    Will it change my world?  Improve my life?   Be clear about your intent at the outset.
•  In preparing a story, consider how you want to express it.   Use phrases and repeat them several times.  Record yourself and listen undistracted.
• What images or ideas or memories do you want to create?  Choose picture words.  What do the words evoke?  How will people feel when they are listening?
• Speaking is an opportunity to open people up to a broader view and take them to an unexpected place with you as their tour guide. Get to the heart of the issue early on.

Before Speaking – Mind and Body Awareness

Three Minute Body Scan –  http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22

Pocket Mindfulness – S.W.A.P.  Swapping Mindless for Mindful

1. Self-Kindness– Kindness begins at home, so start first thing. Rather than letting the day seize you, you seize the day.  Set your alarm a few minutes early so you don’t have to jump out of bed.  Lie quietly and notice the sensations of the breath.  Set an intention for the day.  Today I will: be more curious, practice non-judgement, listen with intent.  In addition to breathing, read something inspirational or write in your gratitude journal before getting out of bed.
2. Walking Meditation —Anytime you go from one place to another focus all your attention on the act of walking. Awareness of every step.  Go outside if possible.  Nature is a wonderful place to replenish and restore.  Leave your phone behind.  Feel your feet on the ground, the air on your skin, and the sun on your body.
3. Attention— Be present and pay attention when you are doing any task. Mindfully eat. Give your full attention to the food that is in front of you. Inhale the smells, let your eyes feast, notice your hunger level and celebrate what you will be eating.   Now taste.  Notice everything and anything you can about the food in your mouth.  Let yourself fully take in the experience and stop when you are full.
4. Pause—When you arrive at a destination, allow yourself a few moments to sit in the car, noticing your breath. Your breath is like a barometer letting you know what you are feeling. When you tune in to your breath, you have an opportunity to change tension, fear, or anxiety by changing how you are breathing.   Use waiting moments to sit or stand in silence, breathe and just be: computer firing up, on hold, in line at DMV.

Try one for several days, until it becomes a habit.   Then add another.  Notice how doing them changes your life.  Hopefully, you have more connection, inspiration and peace.

Please leave a post on the webpage to let me know your experiences.