Contrary to popular belief, meditation does not mean emptying our minds of all thoughts. When meditating, we become more aware of our thoughts which in turn allows us to choose which thoughts to focus upon.

Thich Nhat Hanh explains that “Meditation is not to escape from society, but to come back to ourselves and see what is going on. Once there is seeing, there must be acting. With mindfulness, we know what to do and what not to do to help.”

Brains are like a large train station with many trains of thoughts rolling in and out. We can easily get on a train of thought that leads to an unwanted destination resulting in emotional distress. By improving awareness of thoughts, we can become aware of thoughts before they hijack the brain.

Through meditation, poetry, mindful movement, discussions, and activities, we
practice strategies for managing pain, and emotional distress, as well as the unpredictability of life and life’s challenges.

Viktor E. Frankl said “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Mindfulness increases those spaces, allowing us more freedom to choose our responses.