Mindfulness is a simple and very powerful practice of training attention. It’s simple, it’s secular exercise for the brain. It’s paying attention to what’s happening here and now (i.e. sensations, thoughts, emotions, and noticing the breath, without judging!
Why is it so good?
It’s powerful because it can interrupt the habit of getting lost in thoughts, mostly about the future or past, which often generates more stress on top of the real pressures of everyday life. Basically, you know what’s going on in your head at any given moment. It’s appreciating each moment for what it is!
The 8-Week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course:
While there are many ways to learn mindfulness, it is recommended that Mindfulness is delivered in an 8-week mindfulness course format, as it is the most widely-researched and evidence-based approach. The 8-week format is also an opportunity to make a commitment to showing up and building a regular practice over a series of weeks. It takes this kind of repetition over time to form new patterns of thinking and habits. You will also find that learning to mediate in a group with others and under the guidance of an experienced mindfulness teacher will provide you with a good source of insight and support.
The 8-week course is based on the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme, originally developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the late 1970s, and includes components of the related Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programme that explicitly address the negative thought patterns that can perpetuate stress and lead to depression and anxiety.
This fundamental course explores the essential mindfulness meditation exercises and helps cultivate new skilful ways of dealing with what goes on in our bodies, minds and lives. In addition to the meditation exercises there is information (and discussion) on healing stress, relaxation, stress management, and how to apply mindfulness to interpersonal communication.
Beyond the course, living a mindful life means applying these mindfulness skills to each part of our daily lives. Check out our blog for everyday mindfulness tips and visit our mindfulness courses list for more courses and workshops on how mindfulness can be incorporated into different parts of our lives.
What is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is recognising exactly how you feel, to notice emotions as they arise and as well to be able to really tune into the emotions of others, to be able to discern between different feelings and label them. We gather emotional information then to guide thinking and behaviour, and manage and/or adjust emotions & reactions to adapt to individuals, environments or achieve goals.
“Tune into what you feel, tune in to how others feel, be ok with it and react accordingly”. CBW
Why Emotional Intelligence is the key to success.
In past years IQ was assumed to be the primary determinant of success. Those who had a high IQ were considered to be destined for a life of success. However, some began to question whether a high IQ was in fact the guarantee, that this did not consider the wide range of human abilities and knowledge.
Leaders across workplaces in every industry are now beginning paying more attention to how employees manage feelings—and how emotions play a major role in working relationships, focus and productivity. According to the World Economic Forum, with reference to what workers need in order to be successful 2020, emotional intelligence was ranked as of the top 10 most important workplace skills.