Page 9 - CCCA Magazine Fall 2018

{ MENtAL hEALth }

“ When we train the mind to embrace

impermanence, we take advantage of its capacity
”
to adapt naturally to change so that it promotes
resiliency and wellbeing, instead of eroding them.

our habituated thought patterns and ex- As your mind comes to terms with im- ter if they are done only once in a while.
pectations of how the world should be in permanence, you will fnd yourself notic- They require practice, not only to develop
any given moment. ing and appreciating more things in life the habit but also because we are actu-
When change comes your way and you because you realize that this moment, this ally trying to create more connections be-
fnd your mind constricting around old thing, this person will never be quite the tween nerve cells. Nerve cells that fre to-
ways of thinking and doing, take a breath same again. Gratitude practice not only gether wire together—giving us the ability
and see if you can adopt an attitude of a be- helps you understand the concept of im- to actually re-wire our brains!
ginner's mind. You'll be instantly more re- permanence, but it is often the result of it. Changing ourselves is hard work but
ceptive (and less reactive) to the experience. It's not hard to practice gratitude. A the pay-off is huge. Given the rate and
formal practice can mean taking a few speed at which life is changing around us,
When in doubt, gratitude it out! minutes each day to write out what you it's a good time to heed the words of Vic-
Our brains are hard wired to look for the are thankful for and why. (Read them over tor Frankl and begin to cultivate change—
bad. This negative bias isn't something a before you stop.) Informally, engage more from the inside out. While change can
mindfulness practice can—or should— in grateful reminiscing, focusing on expe- be incredibly stressful, but it can also be
change. It's an important part of keeping riences that are good in your life. the growth plate for incredible personal
us alive. As legal professionals, you have As a reminder to practice, I give ev- strength and transformation. ❚
specifcally trained to strengthen this ca- eryone who attends a workshop with me
pacity to detect threat. Introducing a grat- a stone—you can fnd your own. The in-
itude practice into your life simply trains structions are simple. Carry the stone with Wendy Lund is CEO/Founder of Wellth Manage-
the mind to look for the good as well. you, and every time you see or feel it, stop ment (wellthmanagement.ca), a frm that works
collaboratively with organizations to help redefne
Being and feeling grateful help buffer and fnd something you are grateful for in wealth and foster psychological safety and wellbe-
the harsh reality of our roles and obliga- this moment. It doesn't have to be big. In ing in the workplace. With more than three decades
tions, minimizing the potentially dam- fact, in my opinion, fnding gratitude in of experience as a Health Studies Professor, Wendy
aging effects of stress. It's a strategy that the smallest of things is a great way to prac- understands the biology of stress and resiliency.
can be thought of as an antidepressant tice that beginner's mind at the same time! Her vision is to help others redefne wealth in their
for the mind. When practiced routinely, workplace and lives, which she shares as a speaker
gratitude can build neural pathways that practice, practice, practice through workshops and in print.
produce more positive moods for you and Have you noticed the word practice a lot
those around you. here? None of the mindfulness skills mat-

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