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Hi Fizzy. I'm feeling that too. I'm only new here myself. I don't think this place is as active as it used to be. Seems to be built around an online course based on MBSR. That's what got my attention as I used to be right into the founders books and teachings some 8 years ago. I used to take a lot of medications back then but pleased to say today I rarely take any. Unfortanley the course here does not seem to be currently running but since I saw some activity and the space in here still available, I figured I would use it to post as I do. I generally don't make many connections myself due to my own quirks but find it's worth sticking around for those few that understand and able to reach out when they do. My version of happiness does not come with all the bells and whistles so many others are taught which is why I'm sure my path is much more like a void but I'm down with the void as that too is not always what it seems. Nice to meet you. 🙂

@TajAgha123 With mental stress, do you mean stress caused by your mind? As stress is the body's response to a stressor such as an environmental condition or thoughts. Stress is the body's method of reacting to a condition such as a threat, challenge or physical and psychological barrier. A quick first help is conscious, long and deep breathing for a couple of minutes. If you have chronic stress it can cause severe bodily problems. In that case I recommend a more thorough intervention - for example MBSR (meditation-based stress reduction).

@JLMancke This is such a great (and challenging) exercise. We use this in MBSR. And you are absolutely right: thoughts, emotions and sensations are intertwined - continuously fueling each other. And I think that's the exercise right there. Feeling the emotion in the body might be heat in the chest, a sense of weakness with which we can sit for a while thinking to ourselves, "lot's of frustration and disappointment is here". This way, we can sit with the emotion, be present to it and allowing it to pass through the body. When the thoughts come in, we can witness them and let them go. If we engage in the thoughts, the emotion will get stronger and longer. The thoughts are the story we tell ourselves about the event, the justifications, the arguing in our heads, the generalizations. Once the heat of the emotion is over, we probably have more constructive thoughts again addressing the situation, which caused the feeling more wisely.

In MBSR, we say "acceptance precedes change", so looking honestly at who you are and which challenges you face is the first step to tackling them successfully. So congratulations on that. 🙂 And to your question: When it comes to the taste of music I remember some studies that music you like makes you happy and doesn't have to be happy music - the key is that you enjoy it. So if you happen to be in a somewhat depressed mood, you can also turn it around a little by using music you like. The idea is to create a playlist that first fully reflects the mood you are in and then gradually - song by song - lifts you up a little, and only you know which songs will do that for you. A dark sense of humour can also be a way to deal with and name some bad stuff we face in life; this isn't necessarily bad in itself. Find your flavour of happy - it might be liquorice. 😉

@Dcharles1 You will get a certificate at the end of the MBSR course in the academy when you have finished it successfully, when you have already enrolled. We are changing the structure of the course at the moment. A wonderful self-paced course is available here and the teacher led online course with live sessions will start on happiness.com on the 1st of September 2021.

I am doing the MBSR course now and would like to get certified, where is that offered and is there an online course like this?

I read that too. Great book - though I was a bit intimidated by the size of it. ? Are the traits similar to the nine attitudes of mindfulness tought in MBSR?

I loved the book that was used with my MBSR course, Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn and found it helpful. I have been studying soul traits using a couple of books for quite some time. The books we used were Every day holiness by Alan Morinis and Mussar yoga by Edith Brotman and Alan Morinis. Studying the traits has definitely changed my life. Each trait (patience, humility, equanimity and more), are practiced for a month with a group of participants who journal, practice, etc. between meetings. During the pandemic I completed beginner's yoga (230 hours) and now am in 300 hour training. Yoga is amazing tool. I am certified in meditation and various types of yoga. I'm a life long learner and curiosity breeds happiness for me.

Hello, you might like to try the happiness Academy MBSR course? It's free and gives a great introduction to meditation and mindfulness ?

I totally agree with you Tine, awareness is very important.....even the women we know closely won’t open about it and that’s where the problem arise...it’s tough and also our healthcare people sometimes just put it all on stress or its normal kinda thing...this needs to change and we all need to learn on how to communicate about it strongly... And you are absolutely right our kids needs to know so it doesn’t remain a taboo anymore.. Coming back to MBSR it very strong subject itself and if we incorporate it with Menopause then it has the capacity to change first us as a women to feel strong about this topic so we can come up and discuss ...thank you Tine so much for moving this conversation forward it’s much appreciated cause this is the topic which is hurting so many lives in so many different ways...it can’t be described.... kind regards Jo

In my opinion, your post here in the forum is already one part of the solution, that is, awareness and open conversations. Your reply @Jyopre and starting the conversation is much appreciated. Awareness, education and honest communication is such a crucial part of healing and support. Many issues, just like menopause, are swiped under the rug. The woman going through these experiences then feel the need to keep them to themselves as they feel alone and separated, while many share the struggle. In the case of menopause, it's all woman. (That's just crazy - it's all women, and yet we end up feeling alone?) Menstrual pains are a similar issue. Women have Endometriosis and go undiagnosed for years because we - and that includes doctors too - are not aware and educated enough, and it gets dismissed as the woman being whiny. Coming back to the initial topic of MBSR and menopause. I think MBSR can help us be aware and honest with our bodily and mental changes and challenges we go through during menopause. This connection can not only help us be aware of what we need and what's going on but when we rest in a clear relationship with our body, it's easier for us to insist on getting - and deserving! - the support we need, be it from doctors or families and friends. I also realised that with MBSR, I am more equipped to change my communication patterns consciously. One example that comes to mind is talking with the kids in the supermarket about pads, cups and tampons. Not in a hushed voice that would teach them that this topic is something to be ashamed of, but in the same casual tone, I would talk about dinner plans.

Hi Tine, thanks for your interest, ya I can go on and on for this topic ...it is interesting that how during pregnancy people notice our emotions and go overboard on giving us idea and all but when it come to menopause no one kind of give shit about it...the one sentence we always hear is hay we went through same but nothing happened, or what’s big deal about it...even the bigger symptoms goes unnoticed ...the reality is no one knows what it is...to go through it when symptoms are just killing you ...yet you can’t explain what’s going on cause nothing is seen... from outside you just look fine smiling and doing work, hiding everything inside feelings ...emotions cause you don’t want to get the label of drama queen...who just cry for every single thing ...also its hard to explain no-one wants to give time for it ... But let me tell menopause is serious, very hurting and painful not just physically but much more mentally...it can rock your world completely.... In my case I was having symptoms which I didn’t new even existed and related to menopause until I completely paused and came back normal but for past 3 years its rocking me from all directions...was having symptoms like electric shocks which I came to know now is one of the symptom but when it first happened I was worried not knowing how to even explain to anyone what is happening....I thought mu body was taken over by someone ..and it was just the starting taken over by anxiety and so on ... Recently while doing MBSR I was thinking if it could be explained in some videos on how we can incorporate it with Menopause and heal not just the person who is suffering but also educate the people around them ... Sorry its long reply but it’s really taking life’s away....so its close to my heart...cause I am still misunderstood for what happened with me cause of Menopause... Kind regards

@Jyopre Thank you for your question. I am interested to hear some more details around that question. Could you talk about that a bit? Generally speaking, I think MBSR has enormous potential in supporting woman also during their menopause. Being aware of changes and reading the signs your body sends are vital parts of MBSR. So if we are aware of the changes and needs in our bodies and minds, we become aware of how to support our bodies and minds best.

How can we incorporate the practices of MBSR in menopausal women who are suffering but not seen?

Hi Anna, welcome to happiness ? It sounds like MBSR could be a great tool for the students! I hope you find our community useful on any parts of your journey ? Have a lovely day!

Hello! My name is Anna. I am a music educator and learning MBSR to help facilitate increased Social Emotional Learning in our school.

What is MBSR course?

Hi and welcome to happiness! I hope you are enjoying the MBSR course so far, and how great to hear that it works well for you ✨ Hope you have a lovely rest of the week ?

Hi, I'm really pleased to have started the MBSR course and great to be joining like minded people on this journey. I spend time looking for a local course and stumbled across the course hear, which works better for me. I'm on day 3 of the first week.

Hello All, I started the MBSR course 6 weeks ago. I wasnt reflecting here so i thought it would be good to share with others. im writing my experiences in the forum and love reading all your experiences as well. Im grateful to the beautiful people who organised this forum for free. And the course as well.

Welcome @Asha2941, I am looking forward to reading more about your journey with MBSR ?

Hello, I started the course and I am enjoying leaning about MBSR. Thanks. Asha

A warm welcome to happiness Ngoc, and I hope you enjoy the MBSR course! ✨

Hi everyone, Just started the MBSR program :) My name is Ngoc, I am based in Vietnam - but I am French. Wish you all great learning!

Welcome to happiness! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the MBSR course ?