The Wisdom of Discernment

The Wisdom of Discernment

How do we know what to do when? Practicing integrating attention with values leads to wisdom. Tuning into our bodies and learning to listen to their wisdom helps us discern what's healthy and helpful. Bringing gentle curiosity to our thoughts, choices, and physical experience helps us cultivate the skill of wise discernment. A short talk followed by a guided meditation toward ease in the body.

The Stories We Tell

We humans are storytelling beings. By understanding this propensity, we can see ourselves more clearly, and choose more wisely, as we write the ever-changing story of our lives, as we live them. Meditation and mindfulness help us be more aware and resilient in the present moment.

The Power of Pausing

Pausing is an essential mindfulness skill. We can only pause in the present moment, not in the past or the future.  If you can incorporate a tiny pause before you leave the house, or move from any place or part of your day to the next, just long enough to review where you are and what you're doing, you'll find that you can both slow down and save time. This is the gift of simply being present in the moments of your precious life. When we can pause, we can choose wisely rather than react. A short introduction to the skill of the pause, followed by a 40 minute meditation.

Resistance Isn't All Bad...

In mindfulness practice we emphasize allowing things to be as they are, not resisting reality. Accepting what is reduces suffering and leads to the clarity to act to make change. But sometimes, Wise Resistance is exactly what's needed, for example toward the current political regime in the U.S. Finding the balance between not resisting on a personal level, and wise resistance in a political context means taking what action you're able to and also taking care of yourself. The guided meditation helps you to relax, open your awareness, and let go into the wholeness of your being without resistance.

Preference... or Attachment?

We all have preferences, all the time, from unconscious to passionate, and it's perfectly natural to prefer one thing, person, thought over another. However, strong attachments to these preferences can lead to unnecessary suffering. Can we recognize just how much of our attention is about our preferences? Can we learn to let go of attachments to our preferences and thereby suffer less?