Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness part 1

Wednesday September 10, 2008, 7:45 PM
Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness
AU08-105

Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness

This class will examine practical, thoughtful approaches to the
treatment of depression by combining classic cognitive techniques
with mindfulness meditation practice. Whether you struggle with
depression or simply want to understand your mind and emotions
better, you will find these easy-to-use techniques helpful. We will
study clinically proven methods to reduce the recurrence of chronic
unhappiness and help to break the mental habits that can lead to
despair.

Instructor: Chaplain Mary Stanford

Dates & Time: Five sessions on Wednesdays, beginning Sept. 10, 7:45–9 p.m.

Fees: $15 class fee, $19.95 text fee

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Last night was my first class :)
It was really neat.
I got there in plenty of time over dark slick-with-rain-still-coming-down highways.
We started to gather in a room downstairs with chairs around an oval dining-room-esque table, when we realized we had too many people for that. So we moved upstairs.
It was nice upstairs in that it had a great atmosphere of energy and it was not hot. It was a bit dark, but I got used to it and it did not distract me.

There are 16 students, including. One teacher. So, 17 total people. It is interesting side note that there are 16 students including me because the number "7" (16 = 1 + 6 = 7) comes up in my life a lot. So does 8 more often. Probably means nothing, but I thought I would record it.
I am 1 of 4 males.
OK, enough of the statistics :p

On the way upstairs, I saw this one 20-something lady's purse. It was really neat, it was browns and it looked like an owl! I'd never seen that before! She sat to my right in the circle. I talked to her about her neat purse as we went up the stairs. Her name is Sara(h) and she hasn't been out of college for very long (degrees?) and she said "... as a 20-something ..." She wants to nip this depression in the bud now while she's still young and about to start her life post-college.

The teacher is a really good person. We just talked about things in general. We went around the room twice. First time it was clockwise and Sara(h) spoke first. It was just an introduction and why we decided to take the class. Then at the end we were invited to give our definition of depression or talk about what was bugging us most and that went anti-clockwise.

*fights typing self-critical things here ... fights typing self-critical things here*
Besides, it's kind of too late. It's done :D

At the end of class, Mark to my left asked to borrow my book. Then Sara asked to borrow it. I wanted to talk to her some more, but Mark had a few more things to talk to me about before he left. I still had a chance, but then the newly-wed woman was suddenly there and talking to me and trying to show me video of her dog and cat after telling me I should get a dog for comfort. You can actually get a dog like a seeing-eye dog to help you with mental-emotional problems! I didn't know that. They can accompany you inside movie theatres and stores just like a seeing-eye dog too!
I doubt I will do that, tho it was a good suggestion. I'd need a note from a psychiatrist/psychologist which means I'd have to go to one :D

But, this woman ... as I said, she just got married. She got married there in the Rime (REE=may) center and the teacher proceeded over it. She has diabetes and autism and SAD (Seasonal Affected Disorder) and I forget what-else. I think it was neat of her to come right up to talk to me after class and on to the street. :D I think it says a lot of positive things about me, how people (no matter what I say, even if I allowed myself to be self-critical about what I did and didn't say when it was my turn to speak) feel like they can come up and talk to me of all the people in the room. I think that this is good reflection on me.

We have homework! lol It is to read Part 1 (the book is broken down into 4 parts) and try to listen to the included CD at least once.

Mindfulness is the key to getting so you don't get stuck in the doldrums. The DOING part of the mind, the one that deals with goals on the outside, like say homework or getting form here to there by a certain time. Mindfulness is stopping the brain from bringing up all the past times you've been unhappy ... it is only trying to figure it out like a GOAL and looking at past times is helpful in this (I was late to school today by 5 minutes, therefore I will try leaving 5 minutes earlier this time).
You want to switch to the BEING heart-mind. Just see the thought and feeling as that moment, not attach it to any others.

I thought of this in two ways!

1) this phrase came to me: "I cannot predict the future and this has nothing to do with the past."

2) this idea just came to me a few minutes ago. God was telling us how to be mindful when Moses encountered the burning bush and it spoke and he asked who the voice belonged to and the voice said
I AM THAT I AM
that is mindfulness!
It you realize that "i am that I am" at every moment, then you are FREE!