MPDR Archives Blog Post #406 - Oct 18, 2015

In this moment

bring curious attention

to the sensations of breathing

for the next three breaths

  

“As part of my “price of security” mind-set, I had long assumed that the only route to success was harsh self-criticism.  However, research shows that “firm but kind” is the smarter play.  People trained in self-compassion meditation are more likely to quit smoking and stick to a diet.  They are better able to bounce back from missteps.  All successful people fail.  If you can create an inner environment where your mistakes are forgiven and flaws are candidly confronted, your resilience expands exponentially”

 -Dan Harris (excerpt from his book 10 % Happier)

image by M. Lee Freedman

Wishing you compassionate awareness and resilience today

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #405 - Oct 17, 2015

Pause for 3 Mindful Breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

“Sunshine is delicious, 

rain is refreshing, 

wind braces us up, 

snow is exhilarating; 

there is really no such thing as bad weather, 

only different kinds of good weather.”

-John Ruskin

Enjoy moments of this beautiful fall day

 Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #404 - Oct 16, 2015

Pause for 3 Mindful Breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

“The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain”.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Warm wishes for a peaceful day

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #403 - Oct 15, 2015

Anchor your attention in this present moment 

with awareness of sensations of three or more breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

"Baseball is a lot like life. It's a day-to-day existence, full of ups and downs. 

You make the most of your opportunities in baseball as you do in life."

-Ernie Harwell

Wishing you a mindful day

  

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #402 - Oct 14, 2015

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

image by M. Lee Freedman

“By slowing down and relishing the unfolding of every experience, you aren’t choosing to be less accomplished or productive than others.

You’re choosing to be accomplished and productive in ways they may not even understand.

You’re choosing to change what’s within your
own heart and mind, thereby becoming a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem.

By no longer rushing through, you’re choosing
to stop focusing so much of your energy on the wanting and yearning, the wishing it was done, the frustration with what hasn’t happened yet;

And to make, instead, the most of every experience as it unfolds at its own pace.”

-Nea Justice

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #401 - Oct 13, 2015

Be aware

of the connection between your mind and body

in this moment

by directing your attention

to the body sensations of your following three breaths

Image by M. Lee Freedman

The email reminders for the past several days have included quotes and links to articles and videos related to gratitude.

In Canada, today is the day after Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is a day when many people pause to gratefully pay attention to their blessings.  The challenge is to cultivate this attitude as a lasting trait. 

You may be inspired to sustain awareness of the sentiment and the spirit of Thanksgiving by reading an interesting and practical post “Why Gratitude is Good” written by Dr. Robert A Emmons, who discusses the findings of his research on gratitude.  There are also three videos embedded within the post that are very informative. The article and/or the videos may be helpful to you as motivation and guidance in cultivating a gratitude attitude Here is the link:  http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good

Wishing you a day filled with many mindful moments

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #400 - Oct 12, 2015

Pause for 3 Mindful Breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

“Nature's beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude.”

-Louie Schwartzberg

If you have the time and interest, please click on the following link to view a heart-warming and inspiring Ted Talk by Louie Schwartzberg titled Gratitude: https://youtu.be/gXDMoiEkyuQ

  The video includes magnificent time-lapse photography of nature, as well as featuring reflections on gratitude shared by a young girl and an elderly gentleman.

Wishing you a joyful day of Thanksgiving

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #399 - Oct 11, 2015

Pause to really notice the blessing of your next three breaths 

image by M. Lee Freedman

 "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” 

John F. Kennedy

With gratitude to you and this on-line community 

for supporting my personal mindfulness practice

Wishing you all joyful moments this evening

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #398 - Oct 10, 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/

MPDR Archives Blog Post #397 - Oct 9, 2015

Use intention to direct your attention to the feeling of breathing for the next 3 breaths

image by M. Lee Freedman

 In keeping with the theme of gratitude as we approach Canadian Thanksgiving, I am once again providing a link to a beautiful music video called “Grateful: A Love Song to the World” :  https://youtu.be/sO2o98Zpzg8

Wishing you enjoyable moments this evening

Lee

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

http://mpdrarchives.blogspot.ca/