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Episode Summary: In this episode of Growth from Grief, Susan Andersen shares her personal experience of feeling emotionally overwhelmed and how she turned to mindfulness and breathwork to find relief. She discusses how a week of agitation and stress prompted her to revisit her own mindfulness practices, specifically using techniques inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Susan walks listeners through a simple breathing exercise and mindfulness meditation that can help release suffering and invite calmness.

Key Points:

• Susan describes a difficult emotional period where she felt stuck in rumination, sadness, and frustration.
• She revisited mindfulness teachings, particularly the work of Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, as a way to regain her sense of peace.
• The episode highlights Thich Nhat Hanh’s Four Pebbles Meditation, where each pebble represents an element of nature: flower, mountain, water, and space.
• She reads a passage from No Mud, No Lotus, a book by Thich Nhat Hanh, which emphasizes embracing suffering instead of suppressing it.
• Susan encourages listeners to try simple mindfulness breathing techniques, starting with just focusing on the breath and being present in the moment.
• These mindfulness practices can help transform suffering into peace and happiness.

Resources Mentioned:

• No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering by Thich Nhat Hanh
• The Four Pebbles Meditation: An Adaptation from Thich Nhat Hanh
• Susan’s upcoming program: Five Weeks to Grief Relief, starting October 24th. More details available at www.sueandersenyoga.com

Takeaway Message: With mindfulness and breathwork, we have the power to transform our suffering into moments of calm and happiness. By embracing our feelings, rather than resisting them, we can begin to heal.

Call to Action: Try incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine. Start small with a breath-focused meditation and notice how your mood and thoughts shift. Consider joining Susan’s upcoming program, Five Weeks to Grief Relief, to explore these practices further in a supportive community.

Thank you for listening! Visit www.sueandersenyoga.com for Yoga for Grief classes and additional resources.