Why Mindfulness?
All our facilitators are in one shape or form practitioners of mindfulness because we truly believe how this practise contributes to catching yourself in the moment. For leaders and within our profession ... facilitating learning ... this is a valuable skill. The more you are aware of your motivations and your drivers, the more choice you’ve got in the present. So, Imagine ... you would have the luxury of choice in every situation? How would that shape your future and that of others?
Mindfulness, and part of this meditation, greatly contributes to stay in the present moment. It contributes to a fair and compassionate decision but not clouded by past experiences or fear of what might come. In personal transformation, adult development and mindfulness are the most useful ingredients for longer lasting and sustainable change. Within all our courses mindfulness is integrated. In our exercises and always in our reflections about how mindfulness is present or absence in our behaviour.
Mindfulness Expert
We've had the privilige of working with and learning from one of the foremost experts in mindfullness: Michael Bunting.
“I define mindfulness as maintaining an open hearted awareness of our thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations and environment in the present moment. It is paying attention in the present moment purposefully, warm-heartedly and non-judgementally. It is experiencing and accepting the present moment as it really is — not how we want it to be, think it should be or perceive it to be, but as it really is.
Through meditation and other practices we become more aware of our habitual reactions, expand the gap between stimulus and response and make wiser choices. We learn to see the innermost motivations for our actions and become more honest with ourselves. We learn to be the observer of our thoughts, rather than identifying with them, and getting caught up in the mental stories we create. In short, we become profoundly self-aware.
Most of us spent a substantial amount of time lost in thoughts about the future and the past. The science is clear that this habit is damaging for our health and well-being particularly ongoing negative thinking "I should have said" or "why did I forget that" or "I hope my investments are going to be OK"
When we’re present we're able to manage ourselves. It’s only when we are present that we truly have the gift of choice, otherwise we’re ruled by habit” (Michael Bunting, the Mindful Leader)