I began this journey as a way of reducing stress and anxiety in my life.  I knew it was a class focused on mindfulness practice, but really was not sure what to expect.  I had a vision of learning how to bring awareness to myself, to my faults, and my weaknesses.  I wanted to be able to overcome my fears, anxieties, and bad habits and build on my strengths.  Each class brought a new level of awareness to who I was as a human being.  My inner being grew stronger with each class and I looked forward to what the next class would bring to my inner peace, strength, and well-being.  The class exceeded any expectations that I originally had.  I feel I have grown and recognize a shift in mindset that will take me a long way.  (School Psychologist)
​The mindfulness course has been a life changer in a number of ways. Being able to bring awareness to myself during stressful times has allowed me to move away from the distorted thoughts and anxiety to a sense of calm and peace that helps me get through it. (School Social Worker)
​I’ve learned that my mind has been all over the place (wandering) for so long and I don’t know how I got this way.  It’s a subtle path to insanity/destruction.  Mindfulness helps me be the person I’ve been desiring for years.  I’ve been looking for my religious beliefs/practice to bring about this change.  However, I’m finding more calmness, connection to something greater during the mindful practice.  Blending mindfulness with my religious beliefs brings more fulfillment, than religion only.  It feels like the missing piece.  Up until this point, my religious practice has felt incomplete to me.  It’s completed! (Army Captain)
​Mindfulness/MBSR training has touched every area of my life.
I feel like a house undergoing renovations to be the most hospitable and beautiful and loving house possible.  People like
coming over to this house to find space for themselves and to feel cared for.  I can have boundaries in this house so that I have
sacred space, silence and time to play.  (Speech Therapist)
​I am becoming aware of my habitual habit of focusing on the past or either focusing on the future and not being present.  I have asked myself what is in me that is uncomfortable with being here, being present and what  am I running away from by putting so much thought and energy to thoughts about what has happened in the past and what is going to happen in the future as opposed to being present.   (School Social Worker)
I am the only one who is not freaking out during the
end of the school year IEP rush.  (School Psychologist)
​My mindfulness practice has been a godsend through these turbulent times.  Thank you for spreading the practice.  (School Social Worker)
When family members became upset because I was taking time for meditation or mindfulness classes, I remained calm (most of the time) and just continued my activities.  After a while, they began to realize that my participating in Mindfulness wasn’t just “selfish,” it was helping me to become a better person to live with!!!  After that, things got a little calmer.  And they noticed my new patterns of behavior, and started  to copy them!!! (Teacher)
​ When I started, I’m not sure I expected a lot of change.  I have tried a lot of different things to improve my wellbeing at different times and had limited success.  I keep coming back because MBSR works.  I’m shocked at the changes I am noticing.  (School Psychologist)
​ This has been a journey for me.  It has not just been about managing stressful situations and confrontations.  As I continued, I began to realize that I was learning a lot about myself.  My avoidance patterns, the ways I  express (or do not express) my feelings, the old stories, the blaming, the regrets, the expectation of perfection (for myself and others)—all of these thoughts and feelings began to reveal themselves as I read my BOOK!  I am realizing that my book is in fact quite a lengthy novel!! And that I have much to learn by reading and understanding it!! (Teacher)
​I honestly feel a hopefulness and freedom I didn’t have before. I’ve starved myself, I’ve self harmed, I’ve drank, I’ve overdosed, and I’ve attempted suicide a few times. I’ve been so very lost and unhappy. I have been in hospital, taken multiple strong medications, have done several therapies and treatment programs, but they didn’t give me this hope. They saved my life, and I think they got me to a place where I could engage with mindfulness, but they didn’t give me freedom. I honestly think this course came at just the right time for me. I am so very grateful for the opportunity to do this. Thank you for sharing the teaching and for making it accessible. I want to keep practicing and learning, and if I get to a point where I’m doing okay, I’d like to learn how to teach others, because this is life changing. I’d want to make it accessible too. At the start when you said doing this you won’t be the same, I thought you were exaggerating, but you were right!  (MBSR Student)
​I use to be afraid of the silence but now I realize that I am not afraid of the silence.  I am afraid of my conditioning, my stories and my mind states.  The silence has become my refuge, my healer and my teacher.  (MBSR Student)