What we’re listening to, reading and practicing today

Originally posted Nov 6, 2024

Anticipation and emotions have been high this week. 

 

At Community Mindfulness Project, we want to remind you that we are here, and all thoughts and feelings that may arise today or this week are welcome. 

 

Here's what some of us at team CMP are reading, listening to and practicing today:

 

JULIA, Program Manager, Human Being, Breathing

  • Reading: Pema Chödrön's "Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living" I keep one of her quotes by my desk which keeps me focused and moving in the right direction, "Be kind to yourself. Then let your kindness flood the world." I also appreciate how she talks about being spacious and gentle with ourselves, and to lighten up. Breathing now and giving it a try!

 

  • Listening: Disco 💃  "Listening to disco is so much fun and gets me out of my head and into my body! Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) is 8 minutes of stress-relieving, disco FUN!!"

 

  • Practicing: CMP's "Equanimity and Compassion" Guided Meditation (13 minutes). "It's one of my favorite meditations that I listen to regularly. I love Michelle's voice and pacing and the practice helps me feel grounded and open."



ERIKA, Co-Founder, Work in Progress, Curious Human

  • Reading: The wisdom of the Stoic philosophers.  "Shout out to Ryan Holiday of the Daily Stoic.  "Our job today and tomorrow is the same as it’s always been—to be good, to be wise, to stand up for what’s right...Nothing changes that. Nothing exempts us from that. Nothing prevents us from doing that….Whatever happens in life, in world events, in politics, our job is our job, our duty is our duty. 'How does this stop you', Marcus Aurelius asks, 'from acting with courage, discipline, justice and wisdom?'” "

 

  • Listening: Tattoos on the Heart read by the author, Father Gregory Boyle.  "This is one of those books that simply must be listened to in order to absorb its full beauty.  I dose it out as a gift to my soul, in little bits when I most need it.  Father Boyle is the founder and director of Homeboy Industries, the world's largest gang intervention and rehabilitation program, and former pastor of Dolores Mission Church in Los Angeles."

 

  • Practicing: Mindfulness of Emotions. "Letting emotions flow through me - acknowledging them, neither holding onto them nor pushing them away.  Noticing how they shift and shimmer from moment to moment. Oh, and I’m trying to remember to breathe every now and then."

 


ELLA, Executive Director, Doing my Best (and that's enough)

 

  • Listening: To the experts at Sesame Street. "If I can explain it to my four year old, I understand it."

 

  • Practicing: Intentional time outside. "Letting my face feel the sun at least four intentional times takes time, focus and honors its purpose in my mental health regimin."


In case you missed it, there are still many opportunities to connect with us at the Community Mindfulness Project—whether through Zoom, in person at libraries, or as a partner.

Please reach out, and take good care.

 

Community Mindfulness Project