Lynda Ryan, Child and Adult Psychologist
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MINDFULNESS - WHY IS THE PRESENT MOMENT SUCH A BIG DEAL?

27/7/2020

 
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Hello Everyone -

How are you doing? So lovely to connect!

So, why IS the Present Moment such a big deal?
Why is it always emphasized and seen as a pathway to peace, well-being and contentment?

Because, otherwise, we are living in our imagination.

We fluctuate between projecting the past onto the brand new present, or onto “the future” - which in fact, we are only able to fantasize.
It’s all just a process of thinking.
It’s like story-telling, or watching a movie - don’t forget your popcorn!

It would all be relatively harmless, except that “past images” and “future images” have the potential to usurp our lives.

We also BELIEVE them! We take them to be the Truth! They keep us trapped, replaying events, continually re-imaging what is over. Or we project them onto a “future”, which we are likewise imagining. 

Knowing at some level that we can’t do anything with situations that don’t exist, we can feel dis-empowered, nervous and anxious. Our thinking is actually creating suffering.

We even image each other! We see each other through configurations of memories, beliefs and short-hand conditioned interpretations, rather than witnessing the unique, magnificent and mysterious being each of us actually is!

This is why the Buddhists refer to our journey through life as a “Path to Liberation”.

The Way Out - the exit ramp - is to Stop and Become Aware. To recognize that we have been watching a movie - fully engrossed actually. Watching a movie starring ME in all the scenes!
Simply this “Waking Up”, this realization that we have been caught in our imagination, brings us automatically into the here and now - into Reality, where we can now be effective in some way. It “snaps us out of it” - we are awake and in touch with the moment, the reality of our life & being alive. But how long does it last? How long is it before we are back, drawn into the movie theatre with all its drama, conflicts, judgements, terrors  and certainty that we are right? This is why we practice. To strengthen this awareness, our presence and openness in our own lives.

It’s always the present moment - whether we are lost to it, or enjoying it. The present moment is also very manageable! Moment by moment, it is so simple! We live one moment at a time!

We can connect with what is real!  
We can also connect with clarity, our own judgement, intelligence and creativity - and we are able to respond in the most effective way for all concerned. A response that speaks to the living moment.

We are letting life unfold and enjoying being part of the experience.

We are engaging with life, with interest and curiosity - rather than working so hard to control it!

It’s an insight and a shift in perception that makes ALL the difference. It brings us out of feeling stuck or overwhelmed into being fully alive.

Actually, it’s interesting to consider, “Who would I be - without my story”?
Wow - really worth considering and reflecting upon how liberating and expansive that could be!

In Buddhist terms, we would be able to access the underlying peace that is always within us.
To live in what they call the “Spaciousness of Being, the State of Grace”. This is in contrast with the nature of the “Conditioned Mind” - the place of beliefs, defenses, fears, fixed positions and who we have “learned” to be. Our default position.

Our little exercise of Stopping, looking around at objects around us - a chair, a cup, some pens, the  window, a tree outside the window, a bird as it flies - for a few minutes, then ask,
“At this moment, am I okay?” brings you right in touch with the peace and well-being of the present moment. As Thich Nhat Hanh would say, “invite this moment several times throughout the day, and live out of the peace, joy and inner stillness it brings.”

Even in this time of Covid, with its uncertainties, live moment by moment, awake and aware, in peace and stability, with clarity, confidence and creativity.

I am attaching a post for you, from Brain Pickings, a site I am sure you will enjoy - presenting a new book called “Yes to Life”, a compilation of Viktor Frankel’s writings, not previously published. Also, if you are looking for a book on Mindfulness and its application, I love “Our Pristine Mind - A Practical Guide to Unconditional Happiness”  - how’s that for a title!
I enjoyed it so much, all the pages in my copy are underlined, with comments filling every available space. I even took it to a store to have the binding changed for a spiral one!

Wishing you wonderful moments of enjoying this Glorious Summer - of drippy watermelon, sweet berries, sunshine and rain - soft cooling showers and dramatic thunderstorms alike.

We are all at home and in touch with each other in the very same present moment.
We can all meet there!

Much happiness!
Lynda


https://mailchi.mp/brainpickings/viktor-frankl-susan-b-anthony-frederick-douglass-virginia-woolf?e=cfdd374a20

SUPERVISION AVAILABLE ON INCORPORATING MINDFULNESS INTO CLINICAL PRACTICE

26/7/2020

 
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Hello Everyone -

    I am happy to advise you that I am providing supervision for Psychologists, Psychotherapists, and Social Workers, on incorporating the vision and skills of Mindfulness into your clinical work.

    These sessions are recognized by the Ordre des Psychologues du Quebec as fulfilling the Continuing Education Accreditation requirements for Supervision.

    At present, sessions will be conducted by telephone or by Zoom.

    Please feel free to contact me by return e-mail or by telephone, at: (514) 694-5580 for further information.

    Looking forward to speaking with you!

With All Best Wishes,
Lynda Ryan

ENJOYING MINDFULNESS

7/7/2020

 
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Hi Everyone -

How are you doing?

Hope you are enjoying the present moment.

I also hope you are taking good care of yourself. That can mean peaceful strolls, comfy afternoon naps and lovely evening soaks!

Don’t be surprised if you have found yourself to be tired lately, a great deal has been happening. It’s a lot to process, come to terms with, and try to understand.

My view of what’s happening is something I feel so strongly ”in my bones”.

It’s clean up time!

It’s happening at every level.

The whole of humanity has been slowed down, so we can see - and integrate all that is happening. Long-standing issues, no longer being tolerated & accommodated.

Social justice issues - racism and poverty.

Corruption and greed in leadership - along with its resultant effects.

Abuse of power - need for police reform and me-too revelations to promote TRUE gender equality.

Even attention and awareness is being honed, through increased care given to everyday situations. How we shop. What we touch. A full deep breath is now, very clearly, a precious thing.

So much is configuring together in such a short period of time. It is so strongly felt, that people are willing to risk their health and possibly their lives to protest and push for change.

In Psychology, it is a fundamental principle that everything that is blocking the system, that is preventing healing, has to rise and be consciously seen, felt and recognized before it can be let go, for new energy and vision - a new life you could say - to arise. Then it does. Organically and gradually - it comes to be.

Evolution doesn’t move in a straight line, but it does, surely, inevitably and mysteriously occur. Even statues, flags and symbols are being pulled down. Racist names given to sports teams and landmarks are being changed - world-wide. They have been tolerated till now. But they don’t belong to the future that is emerging. A future based on respect.

I am hoping that these thoughts may alleviate any fears or anxiety you may have been feeling. There are multiple, positive processes underway - it can be messy. But what is needed most now is patience. And trust - in the Wisdom that underlies and runs through all of Life.


Returning to the present moment, again and again - and living in that state of peace, contentment and joy, provides an anchor of stability. An unmovable presence within each of us that we can depend on.


The exercise I shared with you, of stopping throughout the day - just to stop - look around for a minute or two, to see everything in your room, to see all the beautiful ways life is supporting you, and then ask, “In this moment - am I okay?” 

I know that all of you are!

The answer, “Yes”, is the tuning in, to that presence and source of strength.

Here is a lovely poem for you from ancient China:

The truth you search for cannot be grasped.
As night advances, a bright moon
  illuminates the whole ocean.
The dragon’s jewels are found in every wave.
Looking for the moon, it is here,
  in this wave, in the next, in the next.
      Xuedou (980 - 1052)

Enjoy summer, enjoy sunshine, enjoy storms, enjoy your breath, enjoy everything!

Warmest wishes,
Lynda
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    Lynda Ryan

    a psychologist who has been practicing, working with, and teaching Mindfulness for almost 30 years. She has trained personally with Jon Kabat-Zinn and Thich Nhat Hanh.

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    Archives by title (alphabetical)

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    ❧ A MINDFULNESS MESSAGE - KEEPING OPEN KEEPING IN TOUCH
    ❧ ENJOYING MINDFULNESS
    ❧ FIRE CIDER AND INNER PEACE
    ❧ HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY
    ❧ HAPPY NEW YEAR
    ❧ MINDFULNESS - ALLOW YOUR HEART TO BECOME A CRADLE FOR THE CHRIST CHILD
    ❧ MINDFULNESS AND DIFFICULT EMOTIONS
    ❧ MINDFULNESS AND INNER PEACE
    ❧ MINDFULNESS AND THE ALLEVIATION OF SUFFERING
    ❧ MINDFULNESS AND THE CORONAVIRUS #1
    ❧ MINDFULNESS AND THE CORONAVIRUS #2
    ❧ MINDFULNESS AND WELL- BEING
    ❧ MINDFULNESS - BEAUTIFUL LUNAR NEW YEAR WISHES
    ❧ MINDFULNESS - BEING A BEAUTIFUL PERSON TO LIVE WITH
    ❧ MINDFULNESS DAY TO DAY
    ❧ MINDFULNESS EVENING - FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH 2020
    ❧ MINDFULNESS EVENING - SEPTEMBER 25TH 2020
    ❧ MINDFULNESS EVENINGS - ONLINE
    ❧ MINDFULNESS EVENING WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21 2020 "LIVING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT"
    ❧ MINDFULNESS - LIVING WITH AN EASEFUL MIND & A JOYFUL HEART
    ❧ MINDFULNESS - LOCKDOWN NIGHTS IN OXFORD
    ❧ MINDFULNESS - THE WIDE OPEN SKY
    ❧ MINDFULNESS - WHY IS THE PRESENT MOMENT SUCH A BIG DEAL?
    ❧ OXYGEN FOR INDIA
    ❧ SUPERVISION AVAILABLE ON INCORPORATING MINDFULNESS INTO CLINICAL PRACTICE
    ❧ THE SIMPLICITY OF THE PRESENT MOMENT
    ❧ THICH NHAT HANH - A PASSING
    ❧ THINKING OF YOU

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