During the last two months, I started attending a Mindful Based Stress Reduction course, which focuses on meditation and mindfulness. Here is what I ultimately got out of the course.
1. An appreciation for silence. We spent anywhere from 30-1 hour meditating. I realized silence is never silent for me; it is rather loud. It gave me the chance to know I needed to stop staring at my phone all the time and be present wherever I was at. I still look at my phone; I just do it less.
2. An understanding of the Stress Reactivity Triangle. Stress has had the potential to trigger panic attacks in my life. Understanding the Stress Reactivity Triangle has significantly impacted how often that happens. Understanding how to react to stress and being methodical in stopping it has had an enormous impact. Here is an excellent article about it: https://lnkd.in/gjVgHvp9
3. An understanding of empathy for myself and others. We are calm, collected, and have it all together to the outside world. Yet, in private, we are all going through a lot. Being mindful of this, especially right now, can go a long way in relationships, interactions, and understanding.