Sr. ADELAIDE WILLIAMSON
CSJ, Former Art Teacher

Adelaide is a Sister of St. Joseph and has an absolutely beautiful spirit. A former art teacher, Sr. Adelaide's artistic abilities and creativity are inspiring. Sr. Adelaide's use of Mindfulness moves in harmony with her life and she uses Mindfulness as a tool to connect not only with herself, but others. 

1. What does mindfulness mean to you? 
Mindfulness is relinquishing the "doing mode"and the "thinking mode" for the "BEING mode of life, so that one is totally immersed in present moment awareness of things - external and internal conditions as they are - without judgment.

2. Describe your mindfulness practice or how you use it? 
Because I have an inborn nature that wants to appreciate and savor things, especially beauty, comfort and joy, I find mindful awareness enhances my gratitude as I live my ordinary daily life.

I'm grateful for my faith in a loving being I call God (Love with and within me) who is always caring for me and all of creation. When in the midst of the challenging aspects of life whether it's people,  places, things or conditions, I believe that these more challenging circumstances of life can work for my highest good. 

Mindfulness includes honoring (by acknowledging) my negative feelings and emotions so that they don't have to be stuffed only to erupt in unwanted ways.

3. What difference has mindfulness made in your life? 
The practice of mindfulness has heightened my sensory awareness so that I savor even more the gifts in my life - people, nature, pets, art, music, sounds, fragrant aromas, lovely  aesthetic things, comfortable circumstances, etc. I also believe it strengthens my conscious contact with God by way of gratitude.

4. How would you explain mindfulness to someone who is new to the concept? 
By sharing my responses to questions 1,2 & 3 above. 

I would let the person know that there is quite a bit of literature on the topic of mindfulness readily available if they are interested in becoming more informed. I would also let them know that the practice of mindfulness seems to have been very effective in helping people deal with chronic pain.

5. Is there anything else you want to tell me about your own mindfulness experience?
I believe mindfulness can best be nurtured by nonjudgmental practice.

SUSY MATEOS 
CPC, ELI-MP, Life and Executive Coach & Yoga Instructor 

Susy, originally from Mexico, has a beautiful joy and energy about her that is infectious. She is a true listener and a wonderful coach. My mom, Anne Peterson, had Susy as a coach as she was completing her Life & Executive Coaching license. We visited Susy and her family in Arkansas and enjoyed a delicious meal of spinach salad, quiche and lime bundt cake, that ultimately sparked wonderful conversations about Mindfulness. Below is her story: 


1. What does Mindfulness mean to you? 
It is to be present

2. Describe your Mindfulness practice or how you use it? 
I practice yoga and meditation everyday and I try to be always aware of being present.  It helps me with my family, my work as a yoga instructor and life coach and with all my relationships.

3. What difference has Mindfulness made in your life? 
My life is happier.  I have less limiting beliefs, fears and negative energy around me.

4. How would you explain Mindfulness to someone who is new to the concept? 
I would say Mindfulness is "To live in the present moment"

5. Is there anything else you want to tell me about your own Mindfulness experience? 
Once upon a time, there was a girl that used to live very happily and safe with her parents and 2 brothers.  She was a shy, sweet, cute, lovable girl who dreamed of becoming a successful teacher, mom, executive woman and wife.  Her world was perfect and full of love, until one day when coming back from school, she discovered that her dad left her home.

That day her mom wanted to kill herself- her father left without explanations and this girl felt a deep sadness and loneliness.  On one hand, she got full of fears and insecurities, but on the other hand, her love and dreams always kept her happy and confident that life was good.  Everything changed.

“That change was inside myself, since that moment I understood that I couldn’t control the outcome but I was still the same person.  I still felt full of love and dreams, and that was what inspired me today to be a Coach. When your are faced with any stimulus, you have an energetic response to it positive (anabolic) or negative (catabolic).  This is called your Energetic Presentation. 

It fascinating for me to be with people, to support them to realize that we all have and unlimited potential, that the only thing we own is ourselves, our life, our desires, and what it really matters is the present moment, and our future is all about opportunities, joy and fulfillment.”

Susy is a certified coach from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC), BBA from Universidad Iberoamericana and registered yoga teacher (200 RYT)

She loves her life; to run, bike, SUP, practice and teach yoga, travel, cook, being a mom, wife, friend, daughter and always tries to be present.

Through the process of coaching, Susy supports to her clients to find their answers to be able to achieve their dreams, helps them to do things beyond what they thought they could do, from a place of confidence.

Susy is committed to help you be the very best you can be and inspire and champion you.  She will help you break through what holds you back from manifesting your dreams and will challenge you to focus time on what you want to do.  She will hold your agenda and help you be accountable for what you say you will do.

“Thank you for taking your time in knowing me a little bit more, and congratulations, this is the first step, being curious and open.  If it’s the right moment, please contact me for a complementary session!”

This humorous TEDTalk by Andy Puddicombe is fantastic! Just another source that describes how accessible and useful mindfulness can be in our lives.

So I'm not feeling too hot today. I have been feeling my body trying to fend off an impending cold, fever and chills since Sunday and it finally gave in!! 

Even so, I refuse to be sick - I don't like being sick and after my two classes today, I spent time resting and trying to drink fluids.

What I do know, however, is that when I do get sick (which isn't often) my body is telling me that it needs to rest and rejuvenate. It's moments like these that I can really see my mindful practice at work. 

I try to practice mindfulness everyday and with that practice, my sense of self-awareness grows. I continue to strive to be in-tune with my body and its needs. That is an awesome feeling. 

Self-Awareness is just one wonderful outcome of practicing Mindfulness. 

Have you had a moment to yourself today? If not, why not now? I've posted a 
great 5 minute Breathing Meditation from UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC). Click here for more free guided meditations! 

Enjoy your mindful moment!!

TODAY'S GOAL:  you begin a daily practice of the S.T.O.P technique, to help recognize (without judgement) your needs in the present moment. 

Like many of us, I find myself trying to juggle a handful of daily tasks. For example: 

• Staying focused and disciplined on my exercise and nutrition plan à la Mendy Lynn, my trainer. Check out Mendy's business Chic Clique Fitness! 
• Taking two fantastic strategic communication classes
• Working full time
• Getting prepared for the Miss Leavenworth/Wooded Hills pageant...which I am SO excited for!
• Networking and Searching for internships in PR/Strategic Communications
• Finding acting jobs 

All of the above are things that I love doing, but sometimes I feel the weight of those tasks and find stress creeping in. It's in those moments that mindfulness plays a key role in my sanity. 

Below is a graphic of the S.T.O.P technique, told to me by Lisa Pinsker, MA, a wonderful teacher of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in Kansas City.