Post by Admin on May 19, 2018 13:39:51 GMT -5
Gus Castellanos is a teacher of Mindfulness located in Florida whom I 'met' online at the Center for Mindfulness website last fall. I follow his blog now, as I find his expressions of life on the mindfulness path to be excellent, simple-yet-clear, and most helpful in keeping perspective as I go about learning how to grow both my individual mindfulness practice, as well as finding more skillful ways to share it with others.
The quote I share below is -- I believe -- really sound advice to those of us who are excited and passionate about improving and sharing with others about mindfulness practice. Because of the powerful changes which MBSR/Mindfulness practice has brought to us individually, like many a novice "convert", we are often eager (too eager?) to share it with others, to 'spread the good word'.
So Gus' thoughts on this topic seemed apt grist for the mill of reflection for our Vanguards here in Wilmington, Delaware. We Vanguards are now near the end of over a one-year cohort, studying towards completing our training under the Vanguards of Mindful Stewartship Program*. So, as I read his blog this morning it seemed to me that Gus was addressing me(us) -- so thought it great material for mindfulvets.net.
The quote I share below is -- I believe -- really sound advice to those of us who are excited and passionate about improving and sharing with others about mindfulness practice. Because of the powerful changes which MBSR/Mindfulness practice has brought to us individually, like many a novice "convert", we are often eager (too eager?) to share it with others, to 'spread the good word'.
So Gus' thoughts on this topic seemed apt grist for the mill of reflection for our Vanguards here in Wilmington, Delaware. We Vanguards are now near the end of over a one-year cohort, studying towards completing our training under the Vanguards of Mindful Stewartship Program*. So, as I read his blog this morning it seemed to me that Gus was addressing me(us) -- so thought it great material for mindfulvets.net.
Excerpt from blog of Gus Castellanos, MBSR Mindfulness Teacher in South Florida, May 18,2018; full blog link is here:
mailchi.mp/4cfc6063d30b/mindfulness-simple-but-not-easyit-is-hard-work:
...Also, I believe that mindfulness is a program of attraction, not promotion. So, as a word of caution, in spreading the word, we strongly suggest that you just be mindful, rather than to be mindlessly spouting out all the great things you have experienced. In particular, please avoid trying to convince or insist that anyone else do mindfulness. Not only might this turn someone off who then may never attend a class, but mindfulness is not for everyone, not for everything and not the only thing one can do to have a better life! Please just practice mindfulness as if YOUR life depended on it, not theirs!
Along these lines, I would like to share something I am noticing and wondering about (disclaimer—this is a theory of mine, not something research-backed) - why some people "get" mindfulness, receive the benefits and insights of their practices sooner and more robustly than others. Mindfulness d has been conceptualized as a disposition, a state, a process, and a trainable skill. In other words, mindfulness is an innate quality that all humans have as well as a practice to bring forth and cultivate that quality. However, 'trait mindfulness' varies among individuals since the level of inherent mindfulness is unique and different in each of us - some have high levels of trait mindfulness, some have lower levels, and many are in between. Therefore, it should not be surprising that some will find benefit and insights quickly and others more slowly. Still, everyone has the capacity for mindfulness and can cultivate it thru practice. Furthermore, those who continue to practice will attain benefit which often is not what one was expecting!....
Gus Castellanos
Read Gus' full discussion here: mailchi.mp/4cfc6063d30b/mindfulness-simple-but-not-easyit-is-hard-work
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*Vanguards of Mindful Stewartship: A mindfulness teacher-training curriculum for military veterans who are graduates of MBSR and are long-term mindfulness meditator-practitioners; Vanguards was developed by Dr. Jenna Tedesco, Psy.D., starting in Fall of 2016. For information on this program please contact the admin of this board through the contact button.
mailchi.mp/4cfc6063d30b/mindfulness-simple-but-not-easyit-is-hard-work:
Well I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh lord, please don't let me be misunderstood ~ the Animals
...Also, I believe that mindfulness is a program of attraction, not promotion. So, as a word of caution, in spreading the word, we strongly suggest that you just be mindful, rather than to be mindlessly spouting out all the great things you have experienced. In particular, please avoid trying to convince or insist that anyone else do mindfulness. Not only might this turn someone off who then may never attend a class, but mindfulness is not for everyone, not for everything and not the only thing one can do to have a better life! Please just practice mindfulness as if YOUR life depended on it, not theirs!
Along these lines, I would like to share something I am noticing and wondering about (disclaimer—this is a theory of mine, not something research-backed) - why some people "get" mindfulness, receive the benefits and insights of their practices sooner and more robustly than others. Mindfulness d has been conceptualized as a disposition, a state, a process, and a trainable skill. In other words, mindfulness is an innate quality that all humans have as well as a practice to bring forth and cultivate that quality. However, 'trait mindfulness' varies among individuals since the level of inherent mindfulness is unique and different in each of us - some have high levels of trait mindfulness, some have lower levels, and many are in between. Therefore, it should not be surprising that some will find benefit and insights quickly and others more slowly. Still, everyone has the capacity for mindfulness and can cultivate it thru practice. Furthermore, those who continue to practice will attain benefit which often is not what one was expecting!....
Gus Castellanos
Read Gus' full discussion here: mailchi.mp/4cfc6063d30b/mindfulness-simple-but-not-easyit-is-hard-work
--
*Vanguards of Mindful Stewartship: A mindfulness teacher-training curriculum for military veterans who are graduates of MBSR and are long-term mindfulness meditator-practitioners; Vanguards was developed by Dr. Jenna Tedesco, Psy.D., starting in Fall of 2016. For information on this program please contact the admin of this board through the contact button.