Updated on the 04-05-2020

‘We must look at our life without sentimentality, exaggeration or idealism. Does what we are choosing reflect what we most deeply value?’ Jack Kornfield

We are still exploring values this week, we found this lovely  short article we wanted to share with you, by Anja Tanhane from Mindfulness Meditation.net.  For so many of us at the moment it may feel like there is a widening gulf between how things are and how we would like them to be. Anja Tanhane writes about the connection between being present with awareness of our experience, and how within this awareness is a space to make a choice. If we can infuse this with what is important to us, our values, this can offer increased flexibility in how we respond, particularly to challenges, and open up potential.

Updated on the 26-04-20

Last week we offered some links in which Jon  Kabat- Zinn discusses some of the 'pillars'  that are embedded within mindfulness, these can also be seen as values or attitudes. Did you manage to explore some of these within your own practice and everyday experiences throughout the week? We would like to encourage you to keep doing this, maybe working with a different set of values that Jon Kabat- Zinn discussed.

It is useful to see 'values' as guides , or a compass that orientate how we relate to experiences , rather than goals.  Dr David Gillanders, Clinical Psychologist/Head of Clinical Psychology , Edinburgh University, helpfully discusses the difference between goals and values.  Dr Gillanders is referring to them in relation to an approach called ACT, which does use elements of mindfulness, however the points he makes are relevant for the values that Jon Kabat - Zinn discusses in the update we posted on the 20-04-2020

Updated on the 20-04-2020

When we describe mindfulness, we often talk about 'being in the present moment', and it certainly would be a challenge to be mindful without being present. However, we can 'be present' in many ways and the qualities bring to this are important. Within mindfulness based approaches a curiosity is cultivated within our awareness of 'being present'  that is embedded within an ethical framework, these are often referred to as 'pillars', or values. Jon Kabat- Zinn, talks about this in these short clips.

Are there any particular 'pillars' that catch your attention that you might be interested in playing with ? Maybe you could pick up on one or two and explore them in your practices, and how you relate to experiences throughout the week?

 Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness 9 attitudes - introduction to the attitudes.  (2.55 minutes)

Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness 9 attitudes - acceptance    (3.27 minutes)

 Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness 9 attitudes - non judging  (4.14 minutes)  

Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness 9 attitudes - patience        (2.19 minutes)

Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness 9 attitudes - beginners mind (2.52 minutes)

Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness 9 attitudes - trust                (3.28 minutes)

Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness 9 attitudes - non striving      ( 2.43 minutes)

Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness 9 attitudes - letting go          ( 3.52 minutes)

Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness 9 attitudes - gratitude and generosity ( 4.08 minutes)

Updated 23/07/2024 (review date due in 6 months)