MPDR Archives Blog Post #479- Dec 30, 2015

Pause

Come into the present moment

by really feeling the sensations

of 3 or more breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”

-John F. Kennedy

Wishing you a mindful evening

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #478- Dec 29, 2015

Notice how the breath feels

as it moves in and out of your body

for the following 3 breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"Let us learn to accept ourselves-

accept the truth

that we are capable in some directions

and limited in others,

that genius is rare,

that mediocrity is a portion of almost all of us,

but that we can contribute from the storehouse

of our skills to the enrichment of our common life."

Joshua Liebman

  

Wishing you mindful awareness and self-acceptance

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #477- Dec 28, 2015

Pause in this moment and bring awareness to the next three breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees."

-Amelia Earhart

Wishing you a mindful day

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #476- Dec 27, 2015

Pause 

Bring curious attention to the next 3 breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

 

“Sit down before fact as a little child, 

be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, 

follow humbly wherever and to whatever abysses nature leads, or you shall learn nothing. 

I have only begun to learn content and peace of mind since I have resolved at all risks to do this.” 

-Thomas Henry Huxley

Wishing you many moments of peace of mind today

 

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #475- Dec 26, 2015

PAUSE for three mindful breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

“You have to make the decision to let go of the past if you want to move forward. 

Reliving your painful past will poison your heart and your tomorrow.

If you look at today through the eyes of the past, you can never see what the present moment has to offer.”

-Bryant H. McGill

Wishing you a mindful day

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #474- Dec 25, 2015

Pause to bring full attention

And perhaps gratitude

 to the blessing of the following three breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

“All we are saying is give peace a chance”

-John Lennon

On this Christmas Day,

(Whether or not you celebrate Christmas)

Wishing you and your families 

and all beings

Peace and Joy

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #473- Dec 24, 2015

Pause to appreciate 3 mindful breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

“Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness.

Laugh when you can.

Apologize when you should

and let go of what you can't change.”

-Drake

Wishing you peace, meaningful connection and happiness 

during this holiday season

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #472- Dec 23, 2015

Pause for 3 Mindful Breaths

"The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention.

When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” 

~Thich Nhat Hahn

images by M. Lee Freedman

Wishing you a mindful day 

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #471- Dec 22, 2015

Step out of auto-pilot mode

and into this present moment

with 3 mindful breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year.

It is a time of deep hibernation and stillness, when the sun pauses before beginning to climb once again in the sky.

In this darkest time of year, what if you were to give yourself some time to simply pause in the stillness for a few minutes, whenever you can throughout your day?

You can start right now by trying this:

Allow yourself to relax into a comfortable position, and say to yourself, “There is absolutely nothing I need to do right now. I allow myself to just be, and to notice this moment as it is.”

Then simply rest, and notice whatever is arising and passing in this moment: the scents, the colors, the sensations, the sounds, the emotions, the thoughts. Practice doing nothing by simply letting it all be, just as the way it is.

Giving yourself moments like this to pause and do nothing can be deeply rejuvenating.”

-Matthew Frum

(excerpt from post The Stillness of the Solstice)

 http://stillnessdaily.org/the-stillness-of-the-solstice/

Wishing you moments of stillness and peaceful awareness today 

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD,CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #470- Dec 21, 2015

Pause to FEEL  the next 3 breaths flowing in and out of your body

image by M. Lee Freedman

“Meditation is a practice that can teach us to enter each moment with wisdom, lightness, and a sense of humor. It is an art of opening and letting go, rather than accumulation or struggle. Then, even within our frustrations and difficulties, a remarkable inner sense of support and perspective can grow.”

-Jack Kornfield

Wishing you 

moments of wisdom, lightness and sense of humour 

this evening

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #469- Dec 20, 2015

Step out of auto-pilot mode

and into this present moment

with 3 mindful breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"Collectively, we have all it takes to create a just and peaceful world, but we must work together and share our talents.

We all need one another to find happiness within ourselves and within the world."

-Craig Kielburger

http://www.freethechildren.com/

wishing you joyful and peaceful moments today

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #468- Dec 19, 2015

PAUSE for 3 mindful breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"The brain is a social organ, and our relationships with one another are not a luxury but an essential nutrient for our survival."

- Daniel Siegel, MD

(excerpt from book Mindsight)

Wishing you many moments of compassionate awareness today

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #467- Dec 18, 2015

PAUSE for three mindful breaths

 before proceeding

image by M. Lee Freedman

Building a practice of gratitude is the best way I know to create an optimistic approach to life.

Start each day by lying in bed for five minutes and mentally acknowledging what you are grateful for.

-Silken Laumann

Wishing you many mindful moments this evening

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #466- Dec 17, 2015

Pause and intentionally bring attention to the next 3 breaths

 image by M. Lee Freedman

 "Yesterday is history. 

Tomorrow is a mystery. 

Today is a gift. 

That's why it is called the present.” 

 -Alice Morse Earle

Have a mindful day

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #465- Dec 16, 2015

Step out of auto-pilot mode

and into this present moment

with 3 mindful breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth 

and in the contemplation of her beauties 

to know the sense of wonder and humility." 

-Rachel Carson

wishing you wonderful moments this evening

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #464- Dec 15, 2015

Pause

Be aware of the sensations

of breathing in and breathing out

for the following three breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"You can have compassion for yourself-which is not self-pity.

You're simply recognizing that ‘this is tough, this hurts,'

 and bringing the same warmhearted wish for suffering to lessen or end 

that you would bring to any dear friend grappling with the same pain, upset, or challenges as you." 

-Dr. Rick Hanson

(excerpt from book Just One Thing)

Wishing you kindness

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #463- Dec 14, 2015

Pause to appreciate your next 3 breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"Just like love, gratitude, can be experienced anytime, anywhere, independent of external conditions.

As long as we are alive we can always find something to feel grateful for.

By bringing our attention to what we already have, and shifting us out of lack and into abundance, gratitude automatically makes us feel happier. 

And as we begin noticing what we already have, gratitude brings us into the present moment.

Because gratitude helps us be in the moment, it is perfectly aligned with mindfulness. 

In fact, the two can be integrated so that our mindfulness practice becomes gratitude practice. 

All it takes is bringing an attitude of appreciation into our observations of the experiences of this moment, such as the sounds in our environment, or the sensations in our body. 

For example, instead of simply noticing our breath, we can practice feeling a sense of appreciation for each breath as it arises and passes.

In this way, gratitude can be a powerful enhancement to our mindfulness practice. 

Instead of cultivating cold, bare attention, gratitude helps us to bring more heart into the practice, making it more warm, enjoyable and profound.

Over time, as we learn to rest in gratitude through mindfulness, we can begin to discover that gratitude is actually our true nature, 

and we can begin to access and live from this inner sense of happiness and abundance more and more."

-Matthew Frum 

http://stillnessdaily.org/mindfulness-of-gratitude/

Wishing you many opportunites to be grateful today

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCP(C)

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/