I had heard of “mindfulness as a way of being” – but didn’t truly get it. The idea of living a more mindful life, and being mindful anytime, anywhere was new to me.
After a year of collaborating with Dr. Dzung Vo and Dr. Joanna McDermid on joint projects, it’s starting to sink in. I’ve had the pleasure of observing and experiencing mindfulness as the way you do things, an approach carried throughout the day, not something extra and aside of what we already do.
The boundary between work and life outside of work has been blurred - in the best possible way. Working with the mindfulness team on projects has completely shifted my own ideas and mindfulness practice!
For example, I’ve introduced leading a brief mindful moment at the beginning of some work meetings to set the tone, and it’s amazing how well received that’s been. A few breaths together can bring us down from operating at a high frequency, from rushing from one thing to the next and into the headspace for the meeting.
I’ve noticed mindfulness practices that I’ve learned from the team – mindful eating, mindful tea-drinking, mindful walking, mindful communication – have rubbed off into my life.
When I was eating a delicious meal at a restaurant with a friend last week, we talked about the textures, the taste, the presentation – and savoured it. The flavours popped more than usual.
When I drink my coffee and tea I now appreciate it for more than just the caffeine boost. I’m enjoying the experience of sipping the warm drink, the smell, and memories of tea time with my grandparents.
When I’m walking it’s not only about getting from point A to point B. I’ve been pulling my phone out less, and take in the scenery and (the entertaining!) people watching. I’ve discovered new things on my routine walks. I can let go of my anxious to-do list that’s buzzing around my mind.
When listening to friends and family, I’ve caught myself from interrupting, allowing them to feel more heard and understood. I feel more connected.
When feeling rushed or stressed, I try to take a moment to breathe and centre myself before dealing with the situation in front of me – whether it’s sending a difficult email, finding the right words to say, or figuring out what next step to take. This pause helps me make better choices.
Reading about mindfulness without experiencing it yourself can be hard to grasp. This is what excites me about our projects between the Kelty Centre and the Centre for Mindfulness at BC Children’s Hospital.
The Breathr mindfulness app for youth, and upcoming new mindfulness content for parents and caregivers, share ways to experience mindfulness. This includes specific mindfulness practices, as well as examples of bringing mindful awareness into your every day and relationships.
Thinking about my individual experience of being introduced to mindfulness, I can’t wait to see the ripple effect of a more mindful hospital on others!