Kabat-Zinn presentation

This is a video of a presentation by Jon Kabat-Zinn on mindfulness (think being very present-oriented).  It includes some time meditating with him and exploring ways that mindfulness can be helpful with stress reduction.  Worth 72 minutes of your time.

A couple of BS-bombs, but very good overall.

Quotes of the day

Meditation is an act of love.

…

Meditation:  It’s not what you think.

–Jon Kabat-Zinn

NPR article on one of the founders of mindfulness psychotherapy–Jon Kabat-Zinn

http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=7654964&m=7655313

Above is a description of mindfulness therapy as practiced by Kabat-Zinn, who has been running a clinic on pain management for decades.  This is important because he is one of the founders of mindfulness therapy.  Good stuff.

Putting one step in front of the other–a mindfulness approach to depression.

Saw this nice, brief article at Huffington Post about using present-minded focusing to overcome depression.

Focusing 0n what is just before you in a given moment is a good way to get through, as well as breaking down difficult tasks in the given moment into more attainable goals is very helpful for overcoming depression, which can make even getting out of bed something that seems insurmountable.

Enjoy the read.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elisha-goldstein-phd/mindfulness-strategies-fo_b_631664.html?view=print

A news article on a type of therapy that is effective for depression.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is an approach that is very similar to mine in dealing with depression and anxiety.  The following is an article about it.  It has been in the news in Britain lately because it is being included among the therapies that are shown there to be effective in dealing with depression.

http://www.sidewaysnews.com/opinion/meditate-your-way-through-depression

Here is a link to a description of what MBCT is:  http://www.mbct.com/.

Here’s the skinny on why it works.  Regular cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is fine in terms of helping people change their thoughts and actions so that they aren’t as depressed, or so that they can get out of depression altogether.  Mindfulness doesn’t change the content of one’s thoughts like CBT does, but it gets at the heart of one’s relationship with one’s thoughts.  Thus, MBCT attacks on two prongs–teaching people to detach from their thoughts through meditative practices, and by teaching people to change the content of their thoughts through techniques associated with cognitive therapy.

Any questions on this?  Feel free to comment, and I’ll answer them!