Thank you for the opportunity to give you resources that are free (or nearly free) for decreasing stress in one’s life. I have been practicing presence for the past several years. These are my favorite resources to maintain and improve mindful awareness.
Here’s a three minute mindful breathing that I often use for patients: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEfs5TJZ6Nk. When I experienced pain regularly, this was my go to that I listened to throughout my day.
From Jon Kabat Zinn an eight week course: https://palousemindfulness.com/
Amazingly, this free resource is up to date and always offers something new.
From Eckart Tolle, a podcast that I love is Essential Teachings: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eckhart-tolle-essential-teachings/id1458654443.
From University of Wisconsin at Madison, a non-profit program that includes this app. A series of meditations that follow each other that are perfectly amazing: https://hminnovations.org/meditation-app.
A book that changed my life is The Power of Now also by Eckart Tolle. Being in the moment, the now, connects us with inner selves without the babble that goes on in the head.
Meditation is the practice of finding that space where we attempt to have more space between thoughts, and mindfulness is bringing that practice to our everyday lives. There’s a gazillion techniques that we can use to become more aware, thoughtful and mindful of the current moment.
Becoming aware of how the body feels, what sounds we hear, and yes, the breath are all methods for accessing the now. When we can spend time without thought, we can connect with what is even more powerful, the depths of awareness and connection to ourselves.
