This is a guest post from Dr Andrew Lewis of Equanimity, who runs mindfulness sessions at the EVI. If you feel that attending would be beneficial, have a look at our ‘What’s On’ page to see when the next session is running.

From birth to old age we will frequently care and be cared for. Caring is and always has been essential for our survival as a species. 

At times the need for care can be small. At other times it can be great.

Some people are employed as carers. Many people become carers for loved ones, members of the family or friends. Caring can be for a short time, intermittent, or it can be ongoing, becoming a defining characteristic of each and every day.

Caring is a responsibility. It can be deeply rewarding and purposeful. It can also be stressful, frightening and heartbreaking.  Sometimes the care is resisted by those who have become fearful and confused making it seem like a lonely thankless struggle. It requires heroic levels of patience, tolerance and courage. Many who care for others can become exhausted, depressed and anxious. Relationships with those they love can become strained, creating feelings of inadequacy and guilt.

What is Mindfulness? How can it help with any of this?

Mindfulness is not a therapy. It is not an instant cure for anything. It makes no promises and does not sugarcoat the difficult realities of life. It is not vague mysterious, or mystical.

Mindfulness is a deeper way of seeing things. Seeing things more clearly, as they are, not as we may think they are or wish them to be. This happens by developing a greater understanding of how the ‘body’ and the ‘mind’  work together, each impacting upon the other. With insight and awareness, we become more familiar with how stress, anxiety, fear and all emotions work in our bodies and in our patterns of thought. Gradually we are able to accommodate these emotions in a new way, by identifying conditioned habitual, harmful reactions that only increase mental and physical discomfort and beginning a new habit of choosing our response to situations and events, rather than following a blind reaction. We are able to settle and calm the body, easing the stress and anxiety we have previously been fuelling. We ‘come home’ to an inner peace that strengthens and is not dependant on external conditions. 

This does not end difficulties but it avoids over complicating them, bringing our physical, emotional and cognitive experiences together in an informed spirit of compassionate, affirmative self-care. Self-care is not selfish. It is an essential requirement if we are to be of any help and support to others. 

If you are a carer, make sure you do not leave yourself out!

It should be remembered that mindfulness requires purposeful practise. It does not depend upon miracles or special talents or temperaments. It is just continued practise. It could become the most valuable, beautiful and precious thing you ever practise.

©equanimity.wales

Andrew is a Registered Meditation Teacher and has delivered Mindfulness courses and Relaxation/Meditation sessions for established service providers and charities, GP practices, hospitals and day centres, private groups, individual clients, schools, colleges, evening classes, and in the workplace/corporate environment. Find out more here www.equanimity.wales.

Take some important time for yourself and join us at EVI. No advance booking required. Email equanimity.org@gmail.com with any queries.