Weekly Notice

This week's suggested topic of consideration: Responding Not Reacting to Stress

Dear friends on the Path,

As we become more skilled at returning to the sensation of the breath in the body as a road back to the actual experience of the present moment, it may become possible to respond deliberately to stressors rather than just reacting automatically.

Interactions with others can be particularly charged and this week we begin an exploration of communication and focus more on interpersonal interactions.

Awareness of our thoughts as just thoughts is a particularly powerful tool. Increased awareness can help us determine when it’s worth our time and energy to reach mutual understanding and when it’s time to simply let it go.

During this week you will be offered tools to help you explore how mindfulness may help you find ways to respond mindfully instead of reacting mindlessly and habitually as you navigate the challenges, concerns, and joys of the day.

Our three main objectives will be to work on building:

• The awareness of your automatic, habitual, conditioned patterns.
• The recognition of how mindfulness may act as a mediator to recognize and become familiar with these patterns. This recognition can literally interrupt the pattern or create space—even briefly—for new attitudes, choices, behaviors, and insights to emerge.
• Awareness of intentions, expectations, commitments, discipline, and choice.

Here are links to a video (How to respond rather than react) and a couple of articles (Michelle Grosser. Rewiring Your Brain: How to Respond Instead of React and Psychowellness Center. Learning the Art of Responding Instead of Reacting) you may find interesting.

Always cultivating the awareness of your automatic, habitual, conditioned patterns,

David

notice notes:

As always, our wish is for you to find a refuge where you may safely meditate on the teachings suggested above.  Keep in mind you may share your thoughts, comments, questions, concerns, or suggestions regarding the benefits and difficulties of implementing those teachings into your daily lives by responding to this email, or texting/phoning (971) 218-6641. Your communications in response to the practice suggestions made above or your practice in general are very important.  Since we aren't gathering together, your responses make meaningful dialog and real understanding of the teachings more attainable.

It is only with an open mind, an open heart, and expression of your thoughts and concerns that true happiness and harmony may be achieved and maintained in your life. Your continued curiosity about and enthusiasm for the Practice is of utmost importance.