Change Is Coming Mindful Transition Course

Lesson Four:  Integration

Whew!  You've done a lot of digging.

Now, it's time to integrate your discoveries.  We're putting them all in the blender so you can watch what happens when they get mixed together!

Here are some questions to help you focus on the most meaningful elements explored in the three previous lessons.  Consider these questions carefully, and use them to stir up some ideas in your discussion with your partner or your own moments of reflection.  Pay attention to what nudges you, and consider how you might create your own transition plan from the insights you've gained in each lesson.

In Lesson One, you thought about a few questions concerning movement and space.  What did you learn?

**How aware of your surroundings are you when you are in transit?

**Are you engaged in any kind of activity that enhances your awareness? 

**Are you engaged in any kind of activity that takes you OUT of your surroundings and focuses your attention elsewhere?  (Listening to music, working on your computer, talking on your cell phone, etc.)

**Do you feel that you could benefit from greater attention to your surroundings?  If so, how? 

**What activities would you be willing to give up in order to focus more fully on the present?

**Of what value is developing your ability to notice details and view the world with a sense of both greater awareness and less attachment? How would this change your daily routine?  Your sense of optimism or connection? Your future?

**Do you believe it is possible to pay attention to things you find boring? Think of a time when you tried this.  What worked? What could you have done differently?

**How is creativity related to your ability to pay attention to the world around you?

 

In Lesson Two, you played around with the idea of time.

**How much time do you spend on a daily basis in conversation with one person at a time? 

**How long is the longest one-on-one conversation you're likely to have each day?  

**At what time of day are you least likely to feel like engaging in conversation?

**At what time of day are you most likely to want to spend time with a group of people?

**If you gather with a group of friends, how much time do you spend talking to ALL of them?  In other words, are you frequently the center of the conversation or are you more likely to talk to one person at a time?

**Do you feel more creative at a certain time of day? Is this consistent, or does it vary depending on your schedule, the time of year, etc.?

**If you have a certain task you must do but don't enjoy, what is the best time of day for you to do it?

**How much time do you spend each week maintaining your office/home/garden?

**After spending two hours cleaning and organizing your space, are you more likely to feel exhausted or exhilarated?

**Do you ever feel that your life would be simpler and/or more enjoyable if you had a smaller home or less stuff?

**Would you say that you are in a period of accumulating (in terms of space and objects) or streamlining (reducing your space or objects)?

**Which would you find most appealing--moving into a larger space with plenty of room to grow, or settling into a smaller space which forces you to limit your belongings?

 

In Lesson Three, you had a chance to look at the various ways you develop a sense of connection.

**At what point in your life have you felt most connected to others in your community? To your group of friends?  To ONE person in your family?

**When have you felt most excited about meeting a new group of people?

**When have you felt most excited about meeting a new individual?

**When have you felt most excited about learning about a new area?

**Are you likely to change locations in the next five years?  Does this idea excite or concern you?

**When is the last time you wrote a paper-and-pen letter to someone?  What was the occasion?  What was the response from the recipient? Did you feel this was a more meaningful way to communicate than if you had said the same thing on the phone? In person?  By email?

**When is the last time you bought a gift for someone without having a specific occasion to do so (birthday, Christmas, etc.)?  Did you put a great deal of thought and planning into buying the gift or was it something you saw and just knew that person would appreciate? What was the response from the recipient?  How did YOU feel as the giver?

**Think about the last time you completed a project or felt good about an accomplishment.  Is this something you did on your own--or with others? 

**In general, are you more likely to feel fulfilled when engaged in activities alone or with others?

**When you complete something on your own, how are you most likely to share your success with others?  (call them, go out with them to celebrate, send a group email, etc.)

 

And finally, here are a few questions to consider as you look back over the digging you've done....

**In what area--movement and space, time, connection--do you feel you have discovered the most about yourself?

**Which lesson included questions most likely to resonate with you?

**What one question led you to the most surprising discovery?

**In what ways were you most likely to share your ideas with someone other than your course partner? (lunchtime conversation at work, dinner conversation with a family member, sending an email) 

**Has this course inspired you to continue to dig a little deeper into any particular area of your life?  If so, are you more likely to examine a habit, an opinion, or a choice you have made about your lifestyle?

**How can greater awareness help you see your possibilities on a daily basis? 

**How can you incorporate this awareness into your life in a consistent way? (regular get-togethers with course partner, reviewing your ideas in a journal, creating a way to remind yourself to step back and see the world from a different perspective, etc.)

**And last, but not least:

Did you find that the majority of the habits, beliefs and values you explored are more likely to LIMIT you or LIBERATE you?

Where will you dig next?  ;-)

It doesn't matter--as long as you continue to keep your eyes wide open to your own possibilities and play with the process of becoming a fully-engaged human being.

As you face your future, remember that the more closely you follow your nudges, the more quickly you will discover the most meaningful elements to incorporate--or discard--in your new, lighter life. 

It all starts with paying attention to your responses and zeroing in on the moments that inspire and fulfill you.  Don't be afraid to lean into them.

Thank you so much for taking this course.  I applaud your willingness to discover new ways to live with greater clarity and creativity.

 

Hugs,

Maya Frost

Real-World Mindfulness Training™

Maya@MayaFrost.com