This past week I had an opportunity to join educators for a professional development training on infusing mindfulness practices into the classroom, offered by the Rubin Museum. The Rubin Museum used to be a brick and mortar space in the neighborhood of Chelsea in NYC. To reach more people, the museum is now a global, traveling entity offering programs and exhibits around the world.
In the training I was reminded of this foundational quote on what mindfulness is – it is awareness. It is through our awareness that wisdom is gained. Mindfulness and meditation practices are not about stopping the thoughts – it is the practice of becoming aware of our thoughts.
For instance, if you have ever been in a challenging or difficult conversation (with colleagues or family) – noticing how you feel in that moment creates a small pause before the reaction. When we don’t notice how we feel, we can sometimes simply react (which might not always be the best).
The takeaway: Practice noticing how you feel in conversations with others this week. It could be your next conversation with whoever you are talking with – at the local store or with someone you know. This could be happy or less happy conversation. Simply begin noticing.