Week 6: Flexibility, Power of Not Knowing, and Interpersonal Relating

“Between stimulus and response there’s a space. In that space lies our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.”
Victor Frankl

There’s a moment of choice before we react to stress and pain in life. However, we’re often unaware of this space because we get caught in habitual patterns of reacting to life. The MBSR program helps us become more aware of our habitual reactions and helps us relate to ourselves in a new way to interrupt this cycle and create more choice in our lives.

A mindful approach to communication can make a big difference in the course of an interaction. Mindfulness facilitates open space that supports deep listening, beyond labels, assumptions, or biases. As we practice in this way, the possibility to listen to others and to listen to ourselves, deepens. We build connection and community when we listen.

Life Practice:

  1. Continue to alternate sitting practice with a body practice (body scan or yoga) every other day (at least 6x per week)

  2. Bring awareness to moments of communication and interpersonal relating. What are you learning from personal practice that can be included in the interpersonal sphere?

  3. Continue to practice mindfulness with your chosen daily activity. Notice when you’re more present to all your moments.

  4. Pay attention to what you take in: Physically in the form of food and drink, but also what you take in through the senses: media, internet, etc. In all these arenas notice the effects of what you take in and consider the result. Is it what you want? Apply what you’re leaning through practice to one of these ‘inputs’ and notice what happens.