Mindfulness and Grief by Heather Stang

Author:Heather Stang
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small
Published: 2018-11-19T16:00:00+00:00

STILLNESS

AND GRACE

YOUR PERSONAL DAYLONG RETREAT

UNDERSTANDING THE RETREAT

Your personal daylong retreat will give you the chance to step back from your normal routine and spend some time with yourself. Seated and walking meditation, mindful movement, mindful eating, journaling, and expressive arts will help you to be still and present, and to deepen your connection to yourself and the world around you.

It is amazing how loud a day of silence can be inside your own head. For many of us, there is a choir of voices narrating our every action. Some are in tune while others are far off-key. We don’t usually take time to listen to ourselves, especially when we want to escape from emotional pain and negative self-talk. Without realizing it, we pick up the phone, turn on the television, microwave some popcorn, or hop online to escape our own experience.

During your daylong retreat you will go off the grid, so to speak, and spend the day listening to yourself and being your own best friend. You will have the opportunity to slow down and pay attention to your body, your mind, and your emotions. You will have the chance to practice the mindfulness-based exercises you’ve learned during the previous four weeks for an extended period of time, and to deepen your connection to the present moment and to yourself.

People who have attended daylong grief retreats report that after spending a day in silence they feel more connected to themselves, the world, and those who live in it. You will spend some of the time walking outdoors and mindfully observing nature. This is a powerful way to connect with something bigger than yourself.

While it can be a challenge to unplug from the world for a whole day, it is also very rewarding. You will experience a symphony of thoughts, feelings, and emotions—some of which may have been buried deeply for years yet choose this opportunity to rise to the surface. Some will be pleasant, others unpleasant, and some neutral; but no matter what shows up, the chances are that you will be grateful for the opportunity to communicate with these visitors in a safe and mindful environment.

Throughout the day, remember to meet whatever emotions show up from the perspective of the Middle Path, and bear in mind that you do not have to engage or push any part of your experience away. Also remember to honor your edges and to be compassionate to yourself and your body, above anything else.

I have included a sample retreat schedule below, but you can write your own. If there are particular practices from the previous four weeks that you have found helpful, go ahead and add them: this is your day.

PREPARING FOR YOUR RETREAT

Choose a day and time. Most people choose to begin their retreat at 9pm on Friday, end their silence at 6pm on Saturday and have a free day on Sunday, but you can set any schedule that works for you.

Choose a private location. Many people choose their home practice space for the retreat.

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