4-week
series Thursdays (5/2-5/23) 8:30am – 9:45am in Proctor Basement 
Free – space is limited and Registration is required here.

Developed at
Duke University, Koru Mindfulness is an evidence-based curriculum found to have
significant benefits on sleep, perceived stress, mindfulness, and
self-compassion. Koru Basic in an introductory 4 class series designed to help
you learn mindfulness through the practice of specific skills that calm and
focus your mind. Participants will receive a copy of Real
Happiness: The Power of Meditation by Sharon Salzberg as a tool
to read throughout the series. We will also be using the Koru app to track
practice and give participants access to skills tutorials, meditation tracks,
and more. Preference will be given to those participants who can make all four
sessions.

Would you like to be updated on ‘All Things Well-being’ in real time? We are creating a listserv to update interested community members regarding on-campus and community events as they come up during the year. If you would like to be included, please sign up here: Well-being listserv sign up!

As 2017 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on my health coaching sessions from this year, what I have learned, and what I plan to take forward into 2018. Here are my top two thoughts:

Connection and community are essential components of wellbeing.

In the work I do, the discussion of connection often starts with self; exploring our understanding of who we are and what we value. It extends to the connection with our families and friends – our tribe. It also extends to our colleagues and coworkers and how we support and engage with each other. We spend a large portion of our waking hours together and how we treat each other really matters. Lastly, our involvement and fellowship in our larger community influences the vitality of our wellbeing.

When we have support, encouragement, and camaraderie, tackling the challenges and changes in life can be more manageable. Just knowing that someone has your back at the end of the day influences the way you even perceive the hurdles in front of you.

It is ok to be human. Actually, it is a necessity.

So often, the changes that clients want to make seem straightforward at the beginning of our work together. However, when you have been practicing a way of being for years, changing that pattern can be difficult. Setbacks, feeling stuck, and frustration are normal. As I remind clients – there are no failures, just learning opportunities. It takes courage to envision the life you want and even take a small step in that direction. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to have witnessed such courage and authentic humanness.

I wish you all a holiday season of connection in your restorative and adventurous moments. Please reach out if you would like to partner with me in the New Year!

Best,

Laura

As 2017 comes to a start, many of us are moved to make resolutions involving our health and lifestyle behaviors. We take stock of where we are and where we want to be. This can be extremely useful as we envision the health that we want – both short-term but even more importantly, long-term.

Unfortunately, many a good resolutions are soon abandoned to the well grooved patterns of our busy and sometimes unpredictable life events. I argue that this isn’t because we lack willpower or desire for positive changes; it’s because changing a lifelong habit is challenging and requires a systematic approach, support, and self-compassion when we have setbacks.

Here are my top 5 tips for making change:

1. Ask yourself WHY you want this change. When meeting with clients this is where we always start: connection to why they actually want their health. We envision what change looks like and how that feels. This can be a big motivator as you move forward, as it grounds you in what is really important to YOU.
2. Create your big goal and then break it down into small steps. Success begets success, so start with what you know you CAN do and then build from there. Real, sustainable change happens in tiny increments. I often tell my clients, make the first steps so small that you have absolute certainty that you can do them; as much certainty in the change as you have in the sun rising each morning.
3. Share your goals with others that can support you in your journey. This may be a friend, a group of colleagues, or a professional. Or all of the above! I work with clients that use virtual groups and apps for this as well.
4. Choose a goal that excites you and has the potential to bring you joy – and not just 20 years from now, but joy NOW. If the goal is a ‘should’: pick a new goal. Experiencing success in one part of your life can increase your energy and motivation to apply the success to a more challenging area of your life.
5. Create a back-up plan based on likely barriers or challenges you may encounter. And maybe even have a back-up plan for your back-up! J

Consider me as a resource as well. I am here to partner with you in your journey toward optimal health! My role is as a guide in the process of change – helping you created a step-by-step plan in order to incorporate new healthy and life nourishing behaviors into your daily routine. I invite you to email me at: lwilkinson@middlebury.edu or call 443-3621.