A Life of Peace (of Mind)

     Peace: freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquility; serenity (dictionary.com, 2015). One of many definitions of the word peace.

     Last week, I went to bed thinking about the topic for my next blog post and as usual, the magic of 4 a.m. showed me the way.  In the wee hours of that morning, I had thoughts about St. Francis of Assisi, who is the “patron saint for ecologists- a title honoring his boundless love for animals and nature” (biography.com, 2015).  One may be thinking at this point-What does St. Francis have to do with peace of mind?  While researching his biography, I came across interesting facts about this man which will hopefully, connect the dots to this week’s theme.

St. Francis and the animals

     Biography.com notes that Francis (Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone) was born into the life of luxury in Assisi around 1181 A.D. (2015).  His father was a cloth merchant and a man of great wealth.  Consequently, Francis was without want (2015).  In fact, during his early teenage years, young Francis was surrounded by wine, women, and song and by early accounts was considered a sinner.  Around the year 1202, Francis joined the cavalry and fought in a war against Perugia where most, if not all of his comrades in arms were killed.  Because Francis came from great wealth and would command a decent ransom, he was imprisoned for over a year before his father could negotiate his release.  It was during that time, that Francis’s life changed forever as he reported having seen visions of God (2015).

St. Francis receives the Stigmata

     Upon his return to Assisi, Francis was a different person: one whose mind and body were scarred by the ravages of an unsuccessful campaign against Perugia.  Francis was described as a shell-shocked soldier (the current terminology being PTSD).  It was during a time of deep prayer at the church of San Damiano that Francis answered the call of Christ to rebuild the Christian church and live a life of poverty (and he did just that).  Those who knew him felt that he had become mentally ill due to the war and was merely suffering from hallucinations.  Undeterred by his detractors, Francis preached the word of God, lived in nature amongst the poor, and even preached to the animals.  In the year 1224, Francis had a vision and during that moment, he was conferred the stigmata (holy wounds of Christ).  Francis carried out his life’s mission until his death on October 3^rd, 1226 at the age of 44 (2015).

     So how does this all tie into a life of peace (of mind)?  The way I see it, St. Francis lived through a chaotic period in his life and suffered from PTSD as a result.  He overcame his struggles with a renewed sense of purpose by following the direction that his life had taken him.  It is my belief that St. Francis had achieved “peace of mind” by answering the call to slow down, commune with nature, and serve his fellow human beings.

     We, like St. Francis, live in chaotic times and all one needs to do to confirm this is to watch the evening news.  Many of us have lived through several wars (dating back to WWII), September 11^th, and are employed in stressful occupations that have disrupted our psycho-emotional balance.  One way we can achieve our own peace of mind is to follow the lead of St. Francis.  So, if you ever have an inkling that you are stuck in a vicious circle, but life seems to be leading you in a different direction, I encourage you to explore these new possibilities.  Sometimes, it is the third act in life that is the most rewarding.

Be well and stay safe,

Tim

References

Peace. (2015). The Dictionary.com website. Retrieved May 04, 2015, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/peace.

St. Francis of Assisi. (2015). The Biography.com website. Retrieved May 04, 2015, from http://www.biography.com/people/st-francis-of-assisi-21152679.

In a Connected World Such as Ours, Why the Big Disconnect?

The other day a friend and I had a conversation about how much the fire service, and life in general has changed because of technology.  He shared with me a quote he saw on Facebook: “We live in the most connected, yet disconnected world.  Why is that?”  I thought about this afterwards and realized how it all began:

Telegraph, telephone, radio, television (with rabbit ears), satellite, and cable.  Telstar, Atari, Nintendo, Gameboy, Xbox, and Wii. Desktop computers, laptop, internet, cell phone, Smartphone, and Wi Fi hotspots.  AOL, MySpace, Facebook, instant messaging, texting, and Twitter.

Ugh . . . try saying all that in one breath.  We truly are the most connected society in the world, both good and bad.  So why the big disconnect?

     I remember growing up as kid where we would be outside all day (save for inclement weather) and the only time we reported home was for lunch and dinner.  From sun up to sun down, it was the norm of the times to soak up as much Vitamin D as possible on those bright, sunny, summer days.  If it rained, we stayed in and played board games, talked about life, or tormented our younger siblings.  There was also a time when neighbors sat on each other’s porches into the wee hours of the morning and just BS’d about everything while trying to solve the pressing issues of the day.  Our technologically advanced world has changed all this, which leads to my next case in point.

     Recently, I worked a night overtime shift and noted the most curious, but not surprising thing.  Five of us sat in the dayroom chairs with the TV on and nobody watching or speaking to each other.  Why?  Because 4 out of the 5 had their attention consumed with the latest text or Facebook posting on their smartphones.  After about an hour of this disconnect, I retired to my cube to read and then go to bed.  This is the new normal, not only in the fire service, but also society at large.  We have so immersed ourselves into the world of instant information that one of our most essential life skills is slowly eroding: basic interpersonal communication.

     An individual can have 1000 Facebook friends, yet fail to recognize that someone he/she works or lives closely with is having difficulty navigating life’s obstacles.  We can also spend hours on end perusing the World Wide Web (I am guilty of this) planning our next adventure, all the while the relationships around us are crumbling because we fail to do one simple thing: communicate with someone without hiding behind a text or an email.  For example, think about how many times you have been in a restaurant and witnessed and an entire group seated at a table not conversing with each other because they were texting or talking to someone else not present that day.

     As I said in an early post, it is our fundamental duty as a member of the human race to leave this world a little better off than we found it ( even if it is just in some small way).  This begs the question: How can we do this if we don’t pay attention to what’s going on right in front of us?

     Don’t get me wrong, I think our advanced technology is a wonderful thing and has contributed to solving many a local, national, or world crisis.  However, I believe that in order to effect meaningful change we must do so on a more personal level.  Let’s start with at least one planned night a week to unplug from the world and just live in the moment at hand.  Substitute computer, smartphone, and TV time with meditation, yoga, a walk in the park, or a one-on-one conversation with a loved one or significant other that is devoid of outside distractions. If we are successful, maybe we can extend it two and so on.

     Ultimately, we crave the intimate connection that interpersonal communication provides.  We want to be heard, just maybe not on the global scale that our current technology affords us. As food for thought, I leave you with the commentary of Mr. Jimmy Buffett whose song echoes the sentiments of this post.  Feel free to add to this conversation either for or against my views, as I welcome all who may present.

 

EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE (Jimmy Buffett/Peter Mayer/Roger Guth/Will Kimbrough)
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, RHYTHM OF A DRUM
SMOKE SIGNALS AND TELEGRAPHS
MADE THE AIRWAYS HUM
BUT THAT’S ALL ANCIENT HISTORY
LIKE BONGS AND LINCOLN LOGS
NO WE’RE LIVING LIKE THE JETSONS
IN A WACKY WIRELESS FOG
TALKIN’ SQUAWKIN’ HAWKIN’
WHO KNOWS IF ANYBODY’S GETTING’ THROUGH
TOASTERS TALK TO CRACKBERRIES
BOSTON TO BOMBAY
TEENAGE SCHEMES ARE MA BELLS DREAMS
AS THE MINUTES TICK AWAY
WE ACT LIKE CRAZY PEOPLE
TALKING TO OURSELVES
CRASHING CARS FOR CONVERSATION
BUT THAT SHIT FLIES OFF THE SHELVES
THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY'S
CRAWLING LIKE AN LA TRAFFIC JAM
CHORUS
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
SO CONNECTED AND ALL ALONE
FROM THE PIZZA BOY TO SOCIALITE
WE ALL SALUTE THE SATELLITE
WON'T YOU TEXT ME WITH THE MASTER PLAN
YOU'RE LOUD AND CLEAR BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
I'M A DIGITAL EXPLORER IN ANALOG ROAM
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
DO YOU REMEMBER DIALING UP
YES, I REMEMBER WELL
NOW I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE
WITHOUT THAT SACRED CELL
I THINK THAT I MIGHT DIE IF I MISS ANYTHING AT ALL
TEXT ME, SEND ME EMAIL, LINK ME UP GIVE ME A CALL
I'M A.D.D. ON AOL AND TRYING TO READ THE WRITING
ON THE WALL
CHORUS
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
SO CONNECTED AND ALL ALONE
FROM THE PIZZA BOY TO SOCIALITE
WE ALL SALUTE THE SATELLITE
WON'T YOU TEXT ME WITH THE MASTER PLAN
YOU'RE LOUD AND CLEAR BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
I'M A DIGITAL EXPLORER IN ANALOG ROAM
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
INSTRUMENTAL

NOW I'M A REAL JUNGLE JUMPER,
I'M A MEGAHERTZ MAN
I SWING FROM TREE TO TREE
ON THE VERY LATEST PLAN
ON THE DOWNLOAD
IN THE DROPOUT ZONES
IN EVERY MAJOR CITY CROSS THE LAND
I GOT BOB MARLEY ON MY RINGTONE
GET UP STAND UP
REACH OUT TOUCH SOMEBODY, MAN

CHORUS
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
SO CONNECTED AND ALL ALONE
FROM THE PIZZA BOY TO SOCIALITE
WE ALL SALUTE THE SATELLITE
WON'T YOU TEXT ME WITH THE MASTER PLAN
YOU'RE LOUD AND CLEAR BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
I'M A DIGITAL EXPLORER IN ANALOG ROAM
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
I'M A DIGITAL EXPLORER IN AN ANALOG FOAM
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
© 2006 Coral Reefer Music (BMI) & Little Flock Music (BMI) & Alsation Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music & Will Kimbrough Music (BMI) admin by Bluewater Music Inc.

 

In Health and Wellness,

Tim

On Becoming Aware of Awareness

     In my blog post titled What Does it Mean to be Mindful (2/3/15), I described the basic principles of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program that I was about to participate in.  Eight weeks flew by quickly, and before I knew it the course had come its conclusion.  However, I realized that it was merely the beginning of what will be a life-long practice on becoming aware of awareness.

     During those eight weeks, I learned about the difference between the stress reaction and the relaxation response and how this can affect both our physical and mental well-being (in both positive and negative ways respectively).  Tools such as the body scan, lying down yoga, and sitting meditation were offered as peaceful alternatives to the angry outbursts, insomnia, and physical distress that often accompany both acute and chronic stress.  The key to my success on this recent journey was to ask myself “What is called for in this moment?” and respond accordingly in a non-judgmental way towards myself and others.

 

 

     Additionally, I learned that with greater awareness to how I react when under stress will afford me the opportunity to respond constructively versus destructively, thereby bringing a sense of inner peace that knows no bounds.  The instructors emphasized that we are all not perfect beings and will have occasional hiccups on our quest for a more balanced existence.  The key to success is to maintain, with due diligence, a meditative practice long after the class has ended.  I encourage any of my readers to consider taking the online MBSR course as offered by SoundsTrue  It is by no means easy to take a look at oneself in the mirror, but the rewards can be great if you stick with it.

     As a way of providing insight into the wonderful world of mindfulness, I leave you with the following Q and A that I completed as part of the final course assessment:

What was your primary intention for participating in this course?

My primary intention was to find the tools I needed to help me to reduce my stress levels.  I was drawn to this course as it would show me not a practice, but a way of life.

What outcome were you hoping to achieve by taking this course?

To find out that I have it within me to be non-judgmental about thoughts, feelings, or encounters with others and myself.

Specifically speaking, what did you get out of the program, if anything?

I learned that I am completely capable of navigating through this large, yet seemingly small world of ours with a more balanced and positive outlook on life.

What are the lessons you will take with you as you move beyond this course work?

The greatest gift I can give to myself is to make time each day to retreat into a peaceful corner of my world.  To be able to breathe deeply, and exhale all that does not serve me well.  The more I practice, the more grounded I will become.

What sacrifices did you make? What were the costs to you?

The only real sacrifice was the time that was needed to put into the practice.  This was never an inconvenience for me because I was more than 100% committed to the course and all it was going to offer me.  I always found the time to make time for myself.

What obstacles did you encounter and what did you learn about yourself in working with these obstacles?

I found that I have an active mind which can wander quite frequently.  Many times my mind will craft and outcome to a future event which 99.99999% of the time never came to fruition the way I imagined it.  More often than not, the outcome was way better than I anticipated.  I learned that through careful attending to my feelings and how my body reacts to stressful situations, I can pause and then respond more appropriately to what is before me at that moment.

How will you continue to practice now that this program is over? Be specific!

The meditation practices that I learned in this course are yet more tools to add to my wellness toolbox to aid me in my continued healing from PTSD.  I have taken up the practice of Kundalini yoga which incorporates meditation into this form.  I will continue with my acupuncture treatments where I meditate during the session to strengthen my resolve.  Furthermore, I will show others the MBSR way (as a personal trainer, firefighter, and peer supporter) as a viable, healthy stress reduction alternative.

What additional resources have you been able to identify that are available to you to continue strengthening your practice?

1. The continued practice of Kundalini yoga.

2. Acupuncture

3. Nutrition response testing to help my stressed organs heal.

4. Chiropractic care.

5. I am going to seek out meditation retreats that are in my area to continue this wonderful journey that I have begun in these last 8 weeks.

6. I will participate in the live day of Mindfulness or use one of the previously recorded versions.

Resources

Meleo-Meyer, F. & Santorelli, S. The MBSR Online Course: An 8-Week Training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction.  Retrieved from http://www.soundstrue.com/store/the-mbsr-online-course-3226.html on 2/3/2015.

 

Peer Supporters are the Ambassadors to Behavioral Health

ILFFPS Logo

Last week, the Illinois Firefighter Peer Support Team (under the guidance of Sarah Gura and Matt Olson) held its third training program at the Illinois Fire Service Institute in Champaign. As a team member, I attended the first day of class and had the honor and privilege of sharing my story with the new group of applicants, and they with me.  Listening to a fellow firefighter’s story has always had a profound effect on me and I learn something different, or confirm what I already knew, each time I go through this experience.  Before I share my observations I want to tell you a little more about our team.

     As Program Director Matt Olson put it: “The ILFFPS was the brainchild of Sarah Gura” (a licensed professional clinical counselor) who recognized a population in the State of Illinois that was underserved in the realm of behavioral health, that being firefighters and their families.  Through the collaborative efforts of Sarah, Matt, and a core group of dedicated firefighters who were passionate about behavioral health, the ILFFPS was born.  The inaugural training was held in April of 2014, and as of this writing the third group of applicants are now team members.  This organization is a work in progress, but continues to grow in strength with each passing day.

     The following Mission Statement and definition of Peer Support are taken directly from our website:

Mission Statement

“To serve the fire service family by providing trained peer supporters who can give confidential, appropriate, and supportive assistance” (ILFFPS, 2015).

Peer Support Defined

“For the intents and purposes of firefighter peer support teams, peer support is defined as a service provided by an individual or group of trained firefighters who respond to firefighters in need- whether that need be a personal or professional concern.  Peer support teams will serve as a helping resource for fire service employees and their families.

Peer support also seeks to help fire service personnel reduce stress and diminish the negative emotional effects of this occupation.  Peer support specifically acknowledges the need to address mental/behavioral health needs for fire service employees and their families.  Our goal is to increase acceptance of this need through the practice of peer support” (ILFFPS, 2015).

     These statements define both the team and its mission.  If you would like more information about us please visit: http://www.ilffps.org/index.html.  That being said, peer support has a much deeper meaning to me, something I confirmed this past Monday.

 

     As each story was laid out on the table (so to speak), I could feel the angst as well as see the tears flow from many of my brother and sister firefighters.  Most of the personal pain was the result of bearing witness to the horrors that our profession often heaps upon us.  However, many related about hardships and traumas that were inflicted upon them long before they entered the fire service (personal history can have a direct bearing on how one will respond to or act out upon, should a future incident of a similar nature strike an emotional cord). Coupled together, it is no wonder why so many of us suffer from behavioral health issues.  As I drove home that day, I reflected on my experience and came to a sudden realization:

    Those of us that make up the team are bound by a common thread that the concept of peer support, or behavioral health for that matter, was not discussed in the firehouse when we began our careers. I can only speak for myself in saying that I wished it had existed when I was a rookie, as it would have saved me a whole lot of emotional and physical turmoil.  If I were a betting man (and I am not), I think most of my fellow team members would echo my sentiments.

     We all learned the hard way, and that is okay.  For it is in these trials and tribulations that we will take our lessons learned and answer the call for help with a sense of confidence and compassion that knows no bounds.  It is our fundamental duty as a member of the human race to leave the world a little better off than we found it, and as peer supporters I believe we will do just that.  It is for these reasons my friends why I say peer supporters are the ambassadors to behavioral health. Not only for the fire service, but for all humankind as well.

 

 

References

Home page of the Illinois Firefighter Peer Support Team.  Retrieved from http://www.ilffps.org/index.html on April 4th, 2015.

    

Love and Peace Will Always be Intertwined

     In my last post I told you about the story of a small child, his family, and what seemed to be a mountain of grief that was heaped on them to include not only his battle with leukemia, but also the loss of his grandfather.  In the week that followed my hearing of this story, I continued to wonder why one family would experience such events in a short span of time.  I realized that this situation is not unique to just them, but happens every day in this large, yet seemingly small world of ours.  Still I perseverated on this issue, and as usual the universe spoke back to me loud and clear.

     I watch the television show Chicago Fire, and in the latest installment titled Forgiving, Relentless, Unconditional I found my answer.  The story line revolved around the death of a small child (in a fire) which was caused by the negligence of his own father.  At the end of this episode the fictitious CFD chaplain named Father Orlovsky delivered this eloquent eulogy, and hence the answer to the question I pondered about for days:

“I want to talk to you today about a subject that touches every one of us, loss.  Sometimes we are faced with things we think we just can’t handle- the death of a loved one, a father, a child, and we strive to find the reason behind it all.

 And when those reasons don’t make sense- It’s me.  We question God.  We look up and we say: “God, how could you do this to us?  How can you put so much on our plate?”  But we are not operating on God’s timetable are we?  We don’t understand God’s plan, how can we?  And let me tell you, this is where faith comes in.

Faith can help us see His message in our own lives.  Perhaps this loss is there to teach us not to take the ones we love for granted; to cherish the simple, mundane moments; to love others as fiercely, and as bravely, and as compassionately as we can.

And in that love, human love: forgiving, relentless, unconditional love, you’ll find peace.”

In Health and Wellness,

Tim

A Most Important Lesson About Life: It’s Precious

During my visit last week to see Erin for acupuncture, we discussed the physical, mental, and emotional aspects with regard to my illness.  I told her that on the first day, I felt a “fire” brewing in my belly as I thought about how I contracted the flu.  If I did not mention this in my last post, I picked it up from someone at work who laughed when I “thanked” him for sharing the gift that keeps on giving.  I then related to Erin how I used the MBSR body scan to induce a deep relaxation response that (in combination with Nutrition Response Testing) helped me turn the corner in a couple of days.  It still amazes me how the body has the innate ability to heal itself if we give it a chance.

     Next, we talked about how I stand on a very narrow ledge between where I am now, and jumping back into the roller coaster of emotional outbursts that I had been accustomed to in my struggle with PTSD.  Erin reminded me that it’s good to have this ledge as a constant reminder that my healing will be a lifetime process.  It keeps one from developing a superman syndrome that has become synonymous with life as a public servant.  Our discussion then moved on to a story about a friend of hers who did her own soul-searching in the wake of a couple of obstacles that life had thrown her way.  Here, my friends is where we learn a most important lesson about life.

     Erin’s friend (who is an attorney by trade), has a toddler son who is currently being treated with rounds of chemotherapy for leukemia.  His mother is on a leave of absence from work to take care of her son, as well as two other children.  One day, in the recent past, this young boy’s grandfather paid a visit to see his grandson and had given him a hug.  Sometime thereafter, he passed away.  Erin told me that her friend began to question why life was heaping such grief upon her family at such a critical time.  Did she show great resolve in overcoming her struggles?  The answer to this question is resounding yes.    Erin related that on the day of the funeral, this woman eloquently delivered the closing argument (eulogy) about her father’s life. At this time the family is taking life as it unfolds before them.

        After hearing this story, I can truly say that I know what the phrase “life is precious” means.  Here was I, bemoaning my fate that someone passed on a short-lived illness to me, so what.  In the comparative grand scheme of things that was no reason to become angry.  We are given only a certain number of breaths in this lifetime, and do not know when they will come to an end.  We are not guaranteed the next minute, hour, day, week, month, year, decade, and so on.  That’s why we need to live in the moment-by the moment, and enjoy all that life has to offer.  I am certain that Erin’s friend and her family are doing just that.

     I recently took up the practice of Kundalini Yoga which I will tell you about in a future post.  We end each practice with the Long Time Sun song which is repeated three times in conjunction with a prayer that the student projects as follows:

·         One for yourself, to self-bless.

·         One for someone you know who needs it.

·         One for World peace.

I promised Erin that from now until this young boy heals, I would project this second prayer on his behalf.  You will find the Long Time Sun song (which repeats three times) in the following YouTube video.  When the verse repeats for the second time, and if you feel so inclined, please join me in projecting a healing prayer on his behalf.  It is not important that you know his name (I will take care of that), just know that he exists and needs our healing energy.

 

 

In health and wellness,

 

Tim

Life is My Teacher

     Last week, something happened to me that I had not experienced in over 10 years: I was stricken with the flu.  Over the course of this past week, my mind wandered aimlessly attempting to figure out why such a rare occurrence chose to rear its ugly head.  The more I pondered the question and focused on this illness, the worse I felt.  At some point during the second day of commiseration, the little voice inside my head told me that this would be a teachable moment in my life.  In other words, my moment of interoception had finally arrived.

     Interoception, also known as an internal sense, is something that is stimulated from within the body, such as hunger.  I found a definition on the website The Free Dictionary which best captured the essence of my moment: “sensitivity to stimuli originating inside of the body”.  During this past week, I actually felt the innate healing powers of my body through a conscious awareness of the relaxation response.  Let me show you what I mean.

     For years I have studied the effects of both the stress/relaxation responses and their connection to both acute and chronic disease, as well as recovery from the same (see previous posts titled “Stress, Our Foe” and “Relaxation: Hard to do . . . Necessary for Life”).   My recovery began on the second day of this bout when I utilized a new tool that I recently added to my holistic tool box:  the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) body scan.  A few weeks ago, I told you that I was going to begin the MBSR course as a way to increase the awareness of my life on a moment by moment basis.  As I become consciously aware of how stress affects me, the better I am able to manage it.  So how does the body scan work?

     The body scan, through a series of guided meditations, asks the practitioner (me) to experience how the body feels in the here and now of this practice.  As I lie on my back with my eyes closed, a facilitator guides me region by region starting with the left big toe.   In a systematic manner, we work our way through the lower, middle, and upper portions of the body respectively.  I am told that if the mind drifts, acknowledge the thoughts without judgment, and then bring my attention back to the area of the body with which I am currently engaged.  By the end of this 55 minute session, any aches and pains I carry seem to melt away without a care.

     The amazing part of this healing process is that the very act of attending to the here and now actually gives the mind a job to do, which is all it ever really wants from us.  Rather than living with chaotic thoughts, I was able to quiet the mind and allow the natural healing process to take its course.  After completing this scan, I could actually feel my internal energy working towards homeostasis (balance) as a result of being in a total state of relaxation. This begs the question:  What was my teachable moment?

     The important lesson learned is reflective of the healing as I experienced it.  Remember, a basic tenet of holism views each person as an individual with respect to what protocol he/she responds because there is not a one size fits all category.  It was destiny that brought me to this exact moment in time to teach me that the mind and body are interdependent, rather than independent entities.  Therefore, they do not work separately from each other as one might think.  I believe that a healthy mind can orchestrate a healthy body.  I will leave you, my readers to be the judge of this statement through further exploration into the world of MBSR or similar stress reduction programs.

 

     As a footnote, I leave you with a quote from Eric Allen:

"Everyone is my teacher.  Some I seek.  Some I subconsciously attract.  Often I learn simply by observing others.  Some may be completely unaware that I'm learning from them, yet I bow deeply in gratitude."

Life is my Teacher J

 

References

Meleo-Meyer, F. & Santorelli, S. The MBSR Online Course: An 8-Week Training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction.  Retrieved from http://www.soundstrue.com/store/the-mbsr-online-course-3226.html on 2/3/2015.

 

TheFreeDictionary.com (2015).  Interoception.  Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/interoception on 3/1/2015.