We Cannot Serve From An Empty Vessel By Cecilia B. Loving*
One of the first things we have to do before we help others is make sure that we are safe. In navigating through our jobs, no matter what form or shape they may take, we will not be effective unless we are operating at a sufficient level of energy, strength, stamina, and fitness. We might be required to wear a hazmat suit, bunker gear, a helmet, or an oxygen mask in the field. At a desk or in an office environment, we might not be required to wear any protective gear but are just as vulnerable to stress. It does not matter what our jobs are, we still have to protect ourselves. Mindfulness is one of the most important tools to protect against stress, in a manner that is both positive and self-sustaining.
Pay Attention to Your Breath
One way to begin the practice of mindfulness is to set aside a moment to be silent, close your eyes and become aware, without judgment just by paying attention to your breath. In Breath by Breath, Larry Rosen- berg teaches us that “when we focus on the breath, we are focusing on the life force.” He says “[t]o contemplate breathing is to contemplate life itself.” We can just count each breath. “Numbering either the in-breath or the out-breath, start with one and count up to ten.... When you reach ten breaths, start back at one. If your mind wanders and you lose count, start back at one.” This is not a game that incorporates success or failure, Rosenberg says. “[T]he whole process is meditation: being with the breathing, drifting away, seeing that we’ve drifted away, gently coming back... without blame, without judgment, without a feeling of failure.”
Practice a Walking Meditation
Meditation is not limited to sitting or lying down, it is also important to practice meditation while standing, as well as walking. A walking meditation can be done moving around our work space on an area as small as a yoga mat. Of course, walking outside in nature is one of the best ways to develop a practice of mindfulness. Rosenberg says practicing a walking meditation has several rewards: we enhance our endurance and stamina; we become free from disease; we better digest our food; and we focus better. We can apply the same awareness to yoga, Zumba, running, spinning, dancing, or lifting weights. Movement increases our endorphins, resulting in improved mood, decreased irritability, and an enhanced ability to concentrate.
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