October Mindfulness Talks
Now Available for Online Viewing
with John Thomas Dodson
During the month of October, I gave four mindfulness talks in live online sessions. They were a response to the challenges of living through these particularly stressful times, and were focused on practice uses of mindfulness to help navigate through some of the issues many of us are experiencing. Since then, many of you have asked if you could hear the talks again. I've recorded each of them in shorter versions and made them available online. You will find a description of each talk below and a link you can use to see them. Please feel free to pass them on to those to whom you feel they might be of benefit.
Be well and happy!
John Thomas Dodson, Founder
Blue Heron Mindfulness Living
October Mindfulness Talks
Shiny Objects: How We Get Addicted to Distractions
This video explores our tendencies to turn away from what is happening right now. We look at how we miss the present moment and wander away from truly being here; we begin to notice how we lose focus in our conversations and how we avoid things we find uncomfortable by distracting ourselves with something else. We learn ways to see more clearly without adding stories, and we explore methods of unhooking ourselves from clinging to distractions. As we develop our practice we can take more ownership of where we direct our attention. We can learn how to experience our lives more fully and be truly here!
View the Shiny Objects video HERE.
The Wisdom of Loss: Grieving, Letting Go and Going On
This period of the Covid-19 virus has been distinguished by each one of us losing things of value. Some of us have lost friends and family members, while others have lost jobs and economic security. All of us have lost the sense of normalcy we enjoyed before the virus changed our daily lives. This talk explores the process of grieving and also the danger of adding suffering to our lives by attaching to what we want to get back. We'll learn about riding these emotional waves and gaining new perspectives through the wisdom of loss.
View the Wisdom of Loss video HERE.
Hula Hoops and Doorways: Working with Obstacles and Choice
This session explores how we get stuck and how mindfulness can help us get moving again. We look at creating healthy boundaries for ourselves while accepting the truth that what is happening around us is not entirely within our control. We begin to notice the possible doorways that could provide movement if we could get free enough of our self-created obstacles to actually go through them. This talk explores limitations, choice and reclaiming our freedom to act skillfully.
View the Hula Hoops and Doorways video HERE.
Loving Everyone Except...
Quarantines and curfews have separated some of us from our loved ones. Conversely it has also placed families in very close quarters for extended periods of time. How do we keep our most intimate relationships connected, healthy and loving under such conditions? We examine the difference between loving everyone at a distance and facing the very human challenges of continuously relating to those nearest to us. We also notice our own irritations, cabin-fever, and extended periods of stress and how they might be affecting those around us. This is a session on the practice of working with spaciousness, acceptance, bravery and kindness in our relationships with those nearest to us and to ourselves.
View the Loving Everyone Except... video HERE.