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Mindfulness meditation has much to offer those of you who
suffer from dating and social anxiety. In
this audio, I’ll walk you through a basic mindfulness exercise focused on the
breath.
Practicing mindfulness can relieve anxiety symptoms, such as
body tension, chronic pain, feeling “on edge,” shaking, blushing, and panic
attacks. By regularly refocusing our
attention on the present moment, we
give our mind-body a much-needed break from fear.
I liken mindfulness to listening to the radio – though you
may find yourself tuned into the Catastrophe Channel or Self-Hatred Station,
you have the freedom to switch to a more peaceful station.
When I walk clients through a beginning mindfulness exercise
similar to the one provided here, they predictably (and often anxiously) tell
me they didn’t do it right. They were
unable to focus and remain in a consistently peaceful state.
“You’re right on track,” I say.
The mind is made to think, plan, and solve. And modern life trains us to stay active, especially mentally.
“Considering this,” I tell my clients, “it’s
natural to struggle when we seek quiet and stillness. And it certainly doesn’t mean you failed at mindfulness.”
Sitting in meditation opens us up to that which typically resides in our unconscious mind. We have a chance to meet,
feel, and befriend our unexpressed self.
While sometimes uncomfortable, this can give us the self-awareness
needed to socialize and date confidently.
I encourage you to expect
discomfort and distraction during meditation.
Work through these moments using what Dr. Dan Siegel refers to as COAL:
curiosity, openness, acceptance, and love.
These very qualities not only ease meditation, by they also lay the foundation
for more compassionate relationships.
If you’d like to learn more about and practice mindfulness
techniques to improve your anxiety, please join me for one of my upcoming Overcoming Dating and Social Anxiety workshops or groups.
hmmm nice
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