Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/882101
THROUGH MEDITATION, YOU CAN LEARN TO MAKE PEACE WITH MODERN STRESS. How Mindfulness Helps with Everyday Challenges Whether you are dealing with a difficult situation at work or a rough patch at home, it is easy to submit to feelings of fear, anxiety, or anger. Here, participants at The Healing Place share techniques they have learned to keep negative emotions from sabotaging their lives. Press pause. "When I hear something I'm not sure about, I sit with it before acting on what I initially think or feel," says Jana Lind. Declutter your mind. "When I feel anxious, my thoughts tend to get jumbled. Now, with meditation, I know how to settle these distractions and regain my focus," says Kitty Seyffer. Respond with kindness. "I've learned I can choose words that reflect my core values when I respond to someone. I want others to know we are all in this together, so I offer them compassion," says Sharon Daniels. THERE ARE TIMES when life gets so hectic that it seems like all you can do is react. Your judgment gets clouded by stress and emotion, and you are left feeling overwhelmed, powerless, and exhausted. Now, perhaps more than ever, this is becoming an experience we all confront. "It's really interesting when you're in a room of 12 to 15 people and realize you're all dealing with basically the same thing," says Jana Lind, a participant in The Healing Place's Living Mindfully course. "People all have specific things that bother them, but basically we're all living in a fast-paced society, and sometimes it just gets to us. We need to figure out how to stop, slow down, and be grateful for what we have." Living Mindfully is a 12-week introduction to mindfulness series. The Healing Place also offers regular meditation groups that meet all year long. Amy Segerstrom, The Healing Place Coordinator, provides instruction about how to practice meditation, as well as strategies for cultivating presence and gratitude, in an environment that is open to all. "I am a Christian and have a strong faith in God," says Sharon Daniels, a retired English teacher living in Eau Claire. "They are very respectful of whatever your beliefs are. When I started going, it became very clear to me that this meditation group was a great way to counteract all the fear and negativity we encounter through the media and just living. I found it to be a safe place for me to quiet my mind and attend to my own heart." The groups typically begin with Segerstrom reading a loving-kindness meditation, which is followed by a guided meditation or silent reflection and then the opportunity to share thoughts in an open discussion. "We have developed a camaraderie in our group," says Kitty Seyffer, an administrative assistant who is also an Eau Claire resident. "If someone is going through a difficult situation and needs a place to get away and calm their mind, this is a great opportunity we have in our area." Sharon agrees: "I feel very fortunate to live in a community that offers something like this." To register or learn more about the mindfulness classes and groups at The Healing Place, call 715.717.6028. A CHANCE TO QUIET THE MIND 3 S A C R E D H E A R T E A U C L A I R E . O R G