Introduction to Mindfulness

Kontext / Contexte

Life is challenging, whether we are at home or at work, including stress, administrative burdens, demands, meeting one's own expectations and those of superiors or colleagues, being a support and role model for students or people in one's care, upsetting life events, etc. The ups and downs of life can threaten our health and well-being. Mindfulness practice has been shown to be a very helpful way of dealing with life's difficulties in a more meaningful, resilient and appropriate way, while also giving us the tools to really be there for life's joys and beauties - moments we often miss because we are not really present. Mindfulness allows us to live life as it really is, with an open mind and heart, and to really be there for others without forgetting ourselves.

Zielsetzung / Objectifs

Knowledge
The participants know:
- the definition of mindfulness and why it can be so helpful
- the application of mindfulness in various situations
- mindfulness exercises for coping with stress, regulating emotions and controlling impulses.

Skills
The participants are able to:
- apply the mindful attitude to their personal and professional life
- apply the aspects of self-care to keep their own energy and well-being tanks full (so that they can be there for others)
- recognise their own inner processes in difficult situations and consciously decide which response/action is now really helpful and needed
- open up to students with empathy and compassion for their difficulties or current conditions and thus find an appropriate response to the situation
- be a role model for the students in kindness, openness and self-accountability.

Attitude
The participants will:
- learn and strengthen a mindful attitude, i.e. an attitude of non-judgmental and kind presence and openness towards everything that is here in the present moment (inner and outer landscape)
- reflect on their habits and thought patterns, especially in stressful situations
- experience the usefulness of applying a mindful attitude, especially when dealing with other people
- learn how they can use the mindful attitude to sustainably improve or deepen their relationships with students and colleagues on a basis of respect and cooperation
- learn and grow through the exchange with other participants and their experiences.

Inhalt / Contenu

- Autopilot and (often unconscious) habits
- How does the human brain work?
- Introduction to mindfulness and definitions of mindfulness
- Effects of a mindful attitude on everyday life and well-being
- How mindfulness can be helpful in everyday life, whether privately or professionally
- Quick tips for dealing with difficulties
- Importance and application of self-care.

Arbeitsformen / Approche méthodologique

- Theoretical learning units with room for questions and exchange
- Guided mindfulness exercises (meditations, reflections)
- Exercises and exchange in small groups
- Exchange of experiences in the large group
- Time to try out and apply the learnings to one’s own life and work and figure out what would be helpful to deepen.

Referent, Referentin / Formateur, formatrice

Berenice Boxler, certified MBSR-teacher, Mindful Communication, Self-Care, IFS (Richard C. Schwartz), Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness, Resilience, Mindful Use of Media, Mindfulness for Teachers and Educators, SEE Learning