5/13 Practice Circle: Trust

When Practice Circle meets again this Sunday, May 13th, at 6 p.m. Pacific, 8 Central and 9 Eastern, we’ll explore one of the Attitudes of Mindfulness described by Jon Kabat-Zinn for the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. The attitude we’ll be discussing is that of Trust, and how it plays a role in contemplative practice.

So what is meant by trust in this context? Is it the full acceptance of everything said, an unquestioning adherence to views? That is often how trust may be interpreted, echoing through the years from our first childhood instruction from our parents to trust them and do as we’re told. As adults, however, there is more ownership of our sensibilities and actions stemming sometimes from habit or reactivity, to actions also informed by mindful awareness and critical thinking. Perhaps most importantly, trust involves maintaining one’s personal agency to question, and to ensure that trust is encouraged to be inclusive of safety and well-being.

Trust as is meant in MBSR neither sacrifices the intellect nor one’s experience. Instead, it involves experimentation to see for yourself what conditions promote leaning into what may uncomfortable without being overwhelmed, and allow growing to flourish. Through continued ownership of that choice, curiosity can grow into the confidence of trust.

In this Practice Circle we’ll have a half hour of lightly guided meditation and reflection, followed by partner sharing and group discussion about what trust means to you, and how it can be a positive influence in promoting your mindfulness practice.

Click here to join our free video conference group Sunday night!