In the news, on the Internet, even behind bars . . .
. . . mindfulness is everywhere, and it’s being used in new and exciting ways everyday.
As the Making Mindfulness Work series comes to a close, what better time than now to look back and reflect on what we’ve learned.
These past six weeks have been quite a journey, and our knowledge base has grown week after week.
The comment boards have been filled with thoughts from practitioners all over the world, and I’m so inspired by the conversations that have taken place – whether they’re meant to share resources, or even personal experiences with mindfulness.
During the series, 10,128 practitioners from 73 countries joined us to hear about new ways to apply mindfulness to their life and work.
It’s so gratifying to see this kind of participation. Not only does it show us that mindfulness is changing lives all over the world, but the strong international presence also adds a valuable global perspective to our comment boards.
Here are some of the thoughts from this year’s mindfulness series that have really stayed with me:
“I found very useful [Tara Brach’s] RAIN. I work with cancer patients and I used to ask them to put their hands on the surface of the painful sites and ask them to say 3 times ‘I accept my pain I want to relieve my pain,’ and in 90% of the cases the pain is reduced by 3 or more points in a VAS. Now I found a deeper meaning in your self-compassion physical manifestations.”
Dr Pablo Mountford, Buenos Aires, Argentina
“Always grounding to listen to Jack Kornfield. I’ve always been leery of the word ‘love’, and tend not to use it generally, as it’s a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. With clients and myself, I speak of respect, patience, mindfulness and humour (humor to you!). I think its my behavioural psychology roots which want to help people step out of emotions and observe clearly through a different linguistic lens. Love is overshadowed by denotations and connotations which confuse and obscure.”
Dawn Baker, psychologist, Brisbane, Australia
“Once again, a big winner! Dan Siegel’s field is incredibly intriguing. Differentiating Mindfulness and Presence is brilliant! As I work with Mindfulness as Stage One to all other work, it’s great to look at other perspectives on what I call the puppet and the puppeteer relationship. Sometimes we call it the Consciousness and the Avatar. Imagine playing chess with your eyes at board level. This is the way most people address life. As soon as we can look down on the board, everything becomes so much clearer. And yet, we can’t ignore the fact that we do inhabit the chess piece as well. Brilliant work, wonderful series, thank you!!”
Ian Blei, Integral Coach, San Francisco, CA
If you joined in the conversation on the comment boards (or our blog), thanks for your participation. Your active involvement makes our programs more than just webinar series – they bring together a powerful community of support and healing.
So thank you again for joining us. And if you haven’t been following the series, you can check out our other courses on mindfulness here.
If you were able to attend the webinars (even just one), what were some of your major takeaways? Have you applied any ideas from the series in your practice? We’d like to hear your experience. Please share your thoughts below.
Dr. Ruth,
Thanks for the emails you send to me.
I am a neurologist by training and now symptomatic with spina bifida and ACM-chiari type one. I have been called a perfectionist; I do strive for perfection, but more importantly, I am a kind person and need kindness now. Thanks.
Dr. Penelope.
I enjoyed the series and hope that you will include some aspects of Christianity in your series and the tradition of Meditation and Contemplation and the impact it has on healing of the mind, body, spirit, and emotions as well. Also, it would be interesting to look at Native American ways of healing. I use the Medicine Wheel with Women’s group and I train counselors, psychologists, and other healers on how to use the Medicine Wheel, Indian ways of healing and also Nature as a way of healing. We are so wonderfully made and there are so many ways to approach healing; mindfullness being one of many.
Hi I also find the work done in this field ‘mind- boggling’- however you see to concentrate on only a few practioners- where are great people like Jon Kabat- Zinn? And William Bloom? Superb teachers…
Perhaps another series??
best, annegret
I, too, can only access Jack Kornfield’s presentation. Hoping you get this taken care of quickly. Thanks, jude
Hi Jude,
Thank you very much for letting us know about this problem. It should be all set now.
Thanks!
Katelin – NICABM Staff
I enjoy the seminars so much. Thank you.
And there is a topic I would love to hear about: What do we know about the influence of Nature on the human organisme and bio-physio-system?? I think it is a most active theme right now.
Ulla Westlund, Denmark
I cannot access anything except Jack Kornfield, which I already have. Please correct this and resend a working link. Thank you.
Hi Helen,
The problem should be resolved now. We apologize for any inconvenience this caused you.
Thank you very much for letting us know about the problem.
Katelin – NICABM Staff
I thought this was a fantastic group of wise presenters. I have heard many of them before in person and always get something out of their presentations. Gems seem to flow out of Jack Kornfield’s mouth and how can you not marvel the genius in Dan Seigel. Marsh Linehan is such a good teacher too and Ruth , you are the ideal person in your role. I was a late gold signer but I am happy I did this.
I cannot access to Dan Siegel’s information and I am a Gold Member. Please advise.
Hi Tom,
Thank you so much for letting us know. The link should be all set now.
Thanks!
Katelin – NICABM Staff
I cannot get access to Dan Siegal’s information and I am a Gold Subscriber. This has never happened before. When will you rectify this error. Margaret McDonald Brisbane Australia
Thank you so much for this stimulating and helpful series.
Years ago I began to follow the words of a wise Cherokee Chief and it sent me on the path to recovery from PTSD:
“An old Cherokee Chief was teaching his grandson about Life.”A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil; he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt and ego. The other is good; he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. This same fight is going on inside of you and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old Chief simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Thanks for the re-minder of this beautiful simply and profoundly wise story.
Saw last webinar, is there more info on the physics of the neural network energy transmission process ?
Hello Meyer,
You may be interested in checking out the online courses offered through EDx.
There is one course in particular called Fundamentals of Neuroscience Part 1., Electrical Properties of the Neuron. Go to The Fundamentals of Neuroscience’s website to review the syllabus.
the course can be taken to write an exam or audited for the information. It is a very interactive way of teaching and learning.
I hope this is helpful.
Enjoy!