Some time ago I remember being instructed in deep breathing exercises, and the importance of taking the time to slow down and really feel the breath from deep in the belly. I remember a member of the group raising their hand and stating "This is all great, but I just feel like I never have time to do this." To which, the instructor replied, "If you ever feel like you don't have time to stop and take a deep breath, that is exactly when you know that it is time to stop and take a deep breath!" It's a simple conversation, and a simple enough comment, but I find myself trapped in this mindset all too often in neglecting my own mental wellbeing. In this busy world, it's just too easy to neglect physical and mental healthy for the sake of 'success' and getting ahead.
In the time since that conversation, mindfulness seems to have proven itself to demonstrably be effective in reducing stress and increasing quality of life. It makes sense to me that our stress response was one built out of survival, that our ancestors needed anxiety to avoid danger and keep to safe environments. In the modern world, however, this response gets hijacked by aggravators that don’t actually threaten our immediate safety.
I plan on taking some time in my classes to utilize mindfulness, even if it’s just quick body breaks or brain breaks, something to bring awareness back to the student in the present moment. While I certainly wouldn’t consider myself an expert, it’s a field I’d like to pursue in the future, especially in how it could intersect with art education.
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