Inner Sustainability through Living Mindfully

Whatever our outer work, our effectiveness in it depends on how well we are sustaining ourselves on the inside. The practical tools of mindfulness help to reconnect our attention and intention with values and wisdom, that alignment that often gets watered down or lost altogether, as we face the challenges and stresses of our lives. Mindfulness is foundational to making the world a better place, by starting with yourself.

Laura Bartels, Executive Director of the Mindful Life Program based in Colorado, will talk about how developing the four key areas of mindfulness—attention, values, wisdom and an open heart—can transform your life and build resiliency.  Join her on March 1^st at 6 pm for this free talk entitled “Inner Sustainability through Living Mindfully” followed by a time for questions. The talk will take place at The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend.

By far, one of the biggest obstacles to finding inner peace and developing our highest potential is the inability to direct our attention where we would like, such as to our intentions for the day or to those activities that are meaningful for us. Through mindfulness, we can consciously train our mind and develop the ability to direct it where we would like and attend to what we choose to attend to. If we don’t train our mind, it can endlessly drag us from one thought to another, compulsively drawing our attention away from what we are presently doing and from what we would like to be thinking about. How much of each day are we able to actually be in the present moment? So much of our life goes by without actually being present in the moment. If we are minds aren’t in the present, then we cannot consciously bring our intention to our days. Researchers report that a wandering mind can be a detriment to being happy.  

Bartels says, “Mindfulness goes well beyond individual benefits and supports positive impacts on others and our communities, creating more compassionate and equitable relationships.”

Laura Bartels will share the full MLP Mindfulness Foundations course March 3^rd – 5th, which offers practical, accessible and universal skills to live a meaningful life. Learn more about this and other upcoming courses and programs at www.mindfullifeprogram.org.