MPDR Archives Blog Post #298 - June 28, 2015

Pause to FEEL  the next 3 breaths 

flowing in and out of your body

image by M. Lee Freedman

"I see your true colors

Shining through

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors are beautiful,

Like a rainbow"

-Cyndi Lauper from song “True Colors”

“…we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.”

-John F Kennedy 

“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”

— Maya Angelou

Enjoy your evening

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD,CM, FRCPC

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #297 - June 27, 2015

Bring full attention to 

the inhale 

the exhale 

and the spaces between 

for the next 3 breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman‬

Prayer for Self Acceptance

I am fallible, and only human, sometimes I fail,
my best efforts are not always enough
my best intentions and judgment can be wrong
my sincerest beliefs can be flawed
I am fallible and only human.
May I have the courage to accept my limitations
May I have the flexibility and insight to change my mind
May I have the openness to see the truths, in beliefs, that are not my own
I am only human, but I seek to grow in wisdom and understanding
May each new day bring me deeper awareness of others and myself.

-by Abby Willowroot

Copyright Abby Willowroot 2008

http://www.spiralgoddess.com/InterFaith_Blessings_Prayers.html

Wishing you courage, flexibility and openness  

to help you have a mindful day

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #296 - June 26, 2015

Bring your attention

to the flow of

the following three breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"The whole game is to notice when you have gotten lost 

and to start over and then to start over again 

and again 

and again.  

Every time you do that, its like a biceps curl for your brain.” 

-Dan Harris

In his narration of a brief, whimsical and simple video called Meditation 101: A Beginner’s Guide Animation, 

anchorman Dan Harris describes meditation as 

“simple, secular, scientifically validated exercise for your brain” Here is the link to the 2 minute video: https://youtu.be/rqoxYKtEWEc

Wishing you many mindful moments this evening

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #295 - June 25, 2015

Bring curious attention

to the sensations of the breath

flowing in and out of your body

for the next 3 breaths

 

image by M. Lee Freedman

"The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice.

And because we fail to notice there is little we can do to change 

until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds."

-RD Laing

Wishing you a mindful day

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #294 - June 24, 2015

Pause for 3 Mindful Breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"It’s becoming more and more clear that the key to a child’s success is learning a wide variety of skills—including non-academic skills, like communication, compassion, and empathy. Click below to read about “The Top 7 Non-Academic Skills for Raising the Mindful Child”

http://www.mindful.org/news/the-top-7-non-academic-skills-for-raising-the-mindful-child

Wishing you a mindful day

Lee

M. Lee Freedman, MD, CM, FRCPC

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #293 - June 23, 2015

Pause for 3 Mindful Breaths

 image by M. Lee Freedman

"Don’t get addicted to busyness, or let it become a badge of honour. You can achieve more by doing less—and feel good about it.”

-Christine Carter, Ph.D

To view read more and view an infographic to see how you may achieve more by doing less, click below:

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

Wishing you moments of productive down time today

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #292 - June 22, 2015

Pause and come into the present moment 

by  tuning in to the sensations of 3 or more breaths 

image by M. Lee Freedman

“Letting go is a way of letting things be, of accepting things as they are.”

-Jon Kabat-Zinn 

Here  is a link to a 4 minute video featuring Jon Kabat-Zinn discussing

the foundational attitude of “letting go”

https://youtu.be/bBCithP9JrM

Wishing you

many moments

of

mindful awareness

today

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #291 - June 21, 2015

Pause

Take a moment to step out of the auto pilot “doing mode” 

to gratefully bring awareness to the sensations of 

your next three breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

Wishes for fathers 

mothers 

and children of all ages 

everywhere 

May you be safe

May you be healthy

May you feel loved

May you be happy

May you live with ease

May you have peace of mind

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #290 - June 20, 2015

Pause for 3 Mindful Breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

The daily reminders for the last five days have each featured one of the foundational attitudes of mindfulness first described by Jon Kabat-Zinn: Non-judging, Patience, Beginner’s Mind,Trust, Non-striving:  

Today’s reminder includes the following description of the attitude ofAcceptance.

“When most people think of acceptance, they think they have to agree to or like something.  Or that they should be passive and “just let it happen.” This is not what acceptance in mindfulness means.

So what does it mean?

Acceptance means seeing something exactly for what it is.  It’s not about your interpretation, or what you think something “should” or “shouldn’t” be like.  It is what is in the moment, seeing it clearly and completely.

This is not easy to do. 

With acceptance, you don’t deny or fight with what is happening. And this may require feeling difficult feelings, such as sadness, anger, or fear.

It also doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a situation. 

Think about it, wouldn’t you have to see something truthfully for what it is before you could even make the best request or change?  As Jeffrey Brantley states in his book, Calming Your Anxious Mind, acceptance “sets the stage for acting in the most potent and healthy way in your life, no matter what is happening.”

So think about this approach to acceptance.  Let it be a quiet opening in your heart as you face a situation that is challenging. See if you can get in touch with a deeper part of you that can guide your response.  Not only will you stay calmer, you might actually find yourself making wiser decisions.”

-Claire Stone 

http://berkeleytherapist.org/blog/?p=471

Wishing you a mindful day

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #289 - June 19, 2015

Bring your attention

to the flow of

the following three breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"Meditation is non-doing, with no goal other than being yourself. This is a time we set aside for ourselves where we do nothing! By nothing, I mean where we are not striving to achieve a specific purpose or goal and we have no agenda. We are meditating to simply be in awareness of the present moment without having to STRIVE (=manipulate, straining or forcing events in order to achieve a certain outcome, state of being or result)

So how do we meditate if we are non-doing and not striving to achieve anything? Well, we just be. We feel what we feel. We hear what we hear.   We smell what we smell. We might have an awareness of some tension or pain in our back or neck.   We might hear birds chirping or smell freshly mown grass. We acknowledge thoughts but don’t let them carry us away from being. We listen to our breath."

-Marguerite Louise

excerpt from  The Attitude of Non-Striving

Here is the link to the full post: http://www.writeofthemiddle.com/mindful-monday-attitude-non-striving/

The post includes this quote from Jon Kabat-Zinn

“Mindfulness is never about doing something perfectly, because it is not about doing or accomplishing at all. It is about allowing things to be as they are, resting in awareness, and then, taking appropriate action when called for. Silence, deep listening, and non-doing are often very appropriate responses in particularly trying moments — not a turning away at all, but an opening toward things with clarity and good will, even toward ourselves. Out of that awareness, trustworthy skillful responses and actions can arise naturally, and surprise us with their creativity and clarity.”

Wishing you more moments in this day to

pause,

breathe,

slow down,

and enjoy life

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/