How to Power Up with Mindfulness for Introverts, Even Extroverts
When you hear the word peace, what comes to mind? Sometimes our minds, introverts and even extroverts, are filled with so many thoughts we may not be able to hear the most important ones above the noise.
On a global level maybe it’s about ending wars and hatred.
Or if you grew up when I did perhaps you think of flowers and peace symbols.
Ultimately what we each want is personal peace. I don’t understand why more introverts aren’t seemingly taking advantage of the wonderful thought-pacer of mindfulness meditation.
These past few years I’ve been learning more about meditation, mindfulness, and prayer. In the process of a daily habit of all three practices, I’m letting go of worry and stress and becoming more present and grounded in everyday situations including some of the most inconceivable.
There is research to support some of the benefits of mindfulness meditation. Because many believe there is not enough research, studies continue, including UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) which according to their website has a mission: “to foster mindful awareness across the lifespan through education and research to promote well-being and a more compassionate society.”
Until you experience things first hand, sometimes you never know!
How to Power Up with Mindfulness for Introverts, Even Extroverts
We know that mindfulness meditation is growing as a practice with many people. Even large organizations like Google, Microsoft, and others offering mindful meditation training. The research even though limited, shows evidence of certain types of benefits for those who do it. And while there isn’t any evidence it can change the world for the better; the world starts with each of us.
Except for my book Communication Toolkit for Introverts, I don’t often promote something via my blog. Heck! When Yoast gave me a “bad content” alert, my mind started freaking out. But then, I stopped, focused and took a 16 second mindful break. This content is good after all.
When my friends at Dreamseedo invited me to create a Mindful Meditation program focusing on the introvert, it seems appropriate to write about the launch event.
[Tweet “#Introverts are in a perfect position to benefit from #mindful meditation.”]
My thinking is introverts are in a perfect position to benefit from mindful meditation, and may begin to change the trajectory of influence.
– Introverts are already more focused and less distracted. Keeping your attention fixed on something without being distracted may be easier for us.
– Introverts have a greater attention span even with social media causing our average attention span to drop!
– In my findings, anecdotally at least, we aren’t as easily consumed with our smartphone devices, and can often fast from its use easily.
– Our listening to both others and ourselves might indicate we could benefit from learning to use mindful meditation to listen better.
I recognize even some extroverts will find themselves in this description. Of course, even extroverts can find inner peace with #mindful meditation.
[Tweet “Even #extroverts can find inner peace with #mindful meditation.”]
Both introverts and extroverts are invited to join a private group with me to take a one week-long mindfulness training specifically for introverts.
Over the course of 7 days, you’ll learn about some of the same meditation techniques I use and how you can make them work with your everyday life – no matter how busy you are.
Who Would Be Interested
While designed as an introductory meditation class, people with all levels of experience with meditation would find value.
How It Works
Friends at httpss://www.dreamseedo.org have an unintimidating online platform that blends audio, video and text participation on your part.
- You’ll find guidance, instruction, and support from others, while you practice meditation over one week, and with a minimum time commitment.
- Except for one group kick-off meeting (about 60 minutes), the program is entirely online (or over the phone) – we’ll have one group call to kick things off. The rest of the content is delivered by video, this unique online learning platform, and some brief but optional readings. It might be perfect for those of us introverts who might have that preference for self-learning.
- Each day you’ll have a particular exercise to practice meditation, on your own time and at your convenience.
- You can also share and discuss your experience with and others in the group on the online platform.
The time commitment is minimal after the introductory call: about 15 minutes per day for meditation and reflection, and optionally an extra 15 to 20 minutes for suggested readings.
Why?
You’ll experience a variety of useful mindfulness techniques and a strong start to build a daily practice – one that will help you to become more centered, present, and calm in your day-to-day life.
When
The mission begins on Sunday, July 10th, 2016, with a 5pm EST kickoff.
But register now to as we’ll limit the size of the group to keep the experience intimate.
Commitment
If you haven’t already made a practice of mindful meditation, you’ll quickly find the value in it with a commitment of 7 consecutive days of your time.
If you can commit to this amount of time, $25, and be willing to complete the full mission, you’ll have a lifelong, most useful tool.
Please join me at httpss://www.dreamseedo.org/missions/464 as we start Introvert Style 7 Day Mindfulness Mission on July 10th, Sunday.
Patricia — It sounds like a valuable course, so you may ask why I’m not registering. I’ve trled a couple of similar courses and I just haven’t followed through. I don’t do well with self-help courses or books. It’s probably because I become easily distracted and don’t have the patience. I think I’ve become much more mindful the older I’ve gotten. I’m more acutely aware of my own feelings and I strive to be “in the moment.” Best of luck — I think a lot of people could benefit from the course.
Thanks Jeannette! One of the major issues with elearning, self-learning and even workshop training is follow- through! By making dreamseedo a SOCIAL platform that puts you in a group while you learn, we see much higher engagement and course completion rates. Spread the word if you like the idea!
Patricia, I would be interested in learning more but what do you mean about the 60 minute kick-off. Does that mean you have to attend in person? Also, what would happen if you were to miss a session?
It sounds like a great program – one so many of us could benefit from..
Lenie, the kick off is the ONLY time we meet online via Dreamseedo video conference as a group. Chance to meet others, clarify intentions and get others ideas. The entire rest of the program is daily 5 to 10 minutes self-study, to include 3 to 5 minute guided mindful meditation and reading for the lesson – if you miss a mission, you get an email with a gentle reminder, unless you want a kick in the butt email. 😵
Patricia, thanks for clarifying – I’m interested and I’ll get back to you if I can make it. 🙂
Glad to clarify Lenie! Thanks for asking.
What a great new initiative, Patricia!
As you know, I love yoga, meditation and mindfulness. Never really bothered with mindfulness until last year when I was doing the MIT U.lab course. Did you know that Mindfulness was invented by someone at MIT in order to make people undergoing heavy medical treatment relax and feel better? We did collective mindfulness in online meetings and it works.
For me however, the combination of yoga and meditation works best. Started doing it about 20 years ago when I lived in London. But training with Indians who have learnt it up in the Himalayas beats everything. So if you can do go to India and train with the professionals. You will love it.
Indeed I do know you love those three wonderful means of self-care Catarina! And I do know about MIT’s Jon Kabat-Zinn. Two of mindfulness meditations are in this week long program! And with people from India – we have a HeartBased Meditation MeetUp group that I have been attending weekly which is lead by an Indian. Indeed I love it all!
What a great workshop! I have been doing mindful mediation for years and know first hand the way it helps reduce stress. I wish you the best.
Thanks so much for the positive comment about the benefits from mindful meditation Sabrina! Most appreciate the well wishes and social shares!
I do not participate in yoga for personal reasons, however it is interesting you stated introverts have a wider attention span. I am an out and out introvert and struggle to concentrate when I am not participating. I am probably far too used to “doing”.
Phoenicia maybe you could use a boost of mindfulness practice. I hope you will check out the program I am kicking off!
Patricia, great initiative!
I am not a fan of yoga by myself. but I will think about some people I know who might definitely like to take part
Good luck!
Kristina thanks for mentioning the yoga in your comment. To clarify for readers, yoga encompasses – body, mind and spirit. Hoping whoever you share this with will understand that mindful meditation would fall in the category of yoga for the mind!
Reading this article (which is great by the way) makes me think about technology, and I wonder if we (introverts) are a dying bread because of it.
Technology is causing people to have a less attention span. It also causes people to have an immediate gratification, what you want is easily at your fingertips, and you don’t have to work for it as much as you did.
The opposite of the above items, are what makes us unique, and values. I wonder if technology is slowly removing the pro-values which we introverts are made of?
William, I found some believe there is fear that technological advances might move us toward a more introverted society! In one way because we are using technology, like a bridge, to interact, maybe there is some truth in the concern. Or maybe it’s more like I believe, that technology could be the boost that introverts can indeed show their full potential while preserving their authenticity. I’m not sure, but that is a most insightful observation.
Patricia,
I am not sure I agree with the belief that introverts can focus more than extroverts. I keep to myself a lot, but it seems like I am constantly starting a lot of projects that I never finish. (That is because I get so many ideas that I am not sure which one is the “best” one to pursue, and they all require a lot of time.) However, regardless of that, this does sound like an excellent workshop.
Thanks, Steve, and please spread the word about the workshop. Not all introverts are alike but research findings bear out, given the right environment, we prefer focus to multi-tasking.