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BPC Monthly Newsletter Finding Your Way... to Greater Awareness  Tools for Optimizing Emotional & Mental Wellness August 2005 Issue In this issue: Being in the Present BPC Announcements Mediation and Sculpture Garden Additional Links
Our newsletter, like many of you, went on vacation last month and has returned with renewed energy and ideas. This month we invite you to increase you awareness of the present. Starting right now, instead of saying "Yes, I will have to try that sometime", practice being mindful of what you are experiencing as you read this newsletter. Greater awareness of what we are doing, thinking and feeling, without judging ourselves, will help us stay in the present and will make each moment of the day a gift to ourself. "Mindfulness... has everything to do with waking up and living in harmony with oneself and with the world." Jon Kabat-Zinn Dorothy Ashman & the staff of Bloomsburg Psychological Center, LLC.
There are two ways we can increase our awareness of the present moment. We can practice mindfulness throughout our daily activities May Newsletter or we can pause and practice mindfulness meditation as described below.
2. Close or partially close your eyes. 3. Watch your breath and silently count "one" as you inhale. 4. Count "two" as you exhale. 5. When you get to "ten" begin again with "one". 6. Notice, without judgment, the thoughts and feelings that spontaneously arise and how they are related. 7. Let go of the thoughts and gently return to watching your breath and counting. Begin again with "one" if you have lost your place. 8. After practicing meditation for a while you may find you can bring your awareness back without counting. 9. Remember, it is the nature of the mind to wonder. Your goal is to accept wherever it goes and then to gently return it to the breath. For a more indepth description of mindfulness meditation you can read or download (for free) the book "Mindfulness in Plain English" with the link at the end of this newsletter.
Women's Depression & Self-Esteem Group with Ronda Barto, LSW meets on Monday evenings at BP Most insurance policies cover group therapy and we will be happy to research your benefits. Call us at 570-387-1832 to see if this group might be appropriate for you. Need extra support? Our area is well supplied with Free Support Groups and Services that can get you connected with other people in similar situations. Our website contains a list of all of the free groups we have heard of. If you know of any that we have missed, please call us at 570-387-1832 and give us the information. Although we confirm the information with each group once a year, we suggest checking with the contact number to make sure the time or location of the meeting has not changed.
 Our garden entrance sculpture, lovingly created by local artists Keith Kocher and Alden Schwarz, has arrived! It took quite a crew to install our new entrance, but now this graceful arbor, covered with lovely Mandeville vines, welcomes visitors to spend time in the garden beyond.
Read or download a short book that will give you a much more detailed description of breath meditation Mindfulness in Plain English Simple descriptions of mindful eating, stretching and breathing Women's Heart Foundation More specifics on breath counting in Mindfulness Meditation Stages of Mindfulness Meditation |
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