Psycon Club

Name of the organizing department: Department of Psychology
Title of the programme: Mindfulness Workshop – Positive Psychology
Date: 26th August, 2019
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Venue: Room no. 305 PG block
Participant’s details: Students of MSc Applied Psychology (1st year) and PGD Psychological Counseling Skills

A two-hour workshop was organized by Department of Psychology for students of M.Sc. Applied Psychology and PGD Psychological Counseling skills on Mindfulness, a part of their syllabus for enhanced understanding of the topic.
The workshop was conducted by Arthi Selvan, a practicing counselor, a post graduate from an esteemed institution in USA and also a visiting faculty of our college (PGDPCS).

The workshop started with a general question of ‘what is mindfulness?’ After a series of interesting inputs and answers from students, it was explained that mindfulness is a vehicle which allows an individual to reach to a specific goal(s) with all their potential in the present moment.

She then started explaining about the area mindfulness falls under in the study of psychology and explained the term with closely related synonyms such as attention, conscious, fully aware, noticing details. After students got an understanding on - what mindfulness is – she then posted another question to them, ‘is being mindful easy?’

This question welcomed variety of opinions and answers from students. To explain the answer to the second question, a video (The Samurai and the Fly) was played. Being mindful is extremely difficult in today’s life and there are distractions that we need to deal with, not only external but internal factors too.

This eventually led to discussing few core areas of the topic for the day and answering the third and last question that arose – ‘Why is it hard and also, important to be in the present moment?’

Auto-pilot stances that individuals take (pushing away something we don’t like and pulling ourselves towards something that we like), curiosity and confusion, openness and acceptance. These two factors are stances that we take in relation to BEST experiences that we had and the idea of ‘will have’. BEST is our Body, Emotions, Sensations and Thoughts. It was beautifully explained by a simple formula:
You + Roles you play + Sensations of Positivity/Emotions + Intention = Mindfulness.

BEST in us creates few beliefs about mindfulness, different in each individual but connects us for being a better social being. Few of those beliefs and skilful actions are:
• Respect for morality
• Generosity
• Compassionate speech
• Thoughtful consumption
• Respect for limits

We cultivate these skilful means through observation of consequences that we face by our actions in our everyday life.

Further, the three prominent points of mindfulness and being mindful were introduced to students in the workshop.
• Create intention
• Pay attention
• Quality of mind or stance to our experience.

By noticing the stance of our choices and intentions, we allow the dimension of being mindful open up. We let our inputs speak for themselves when we experience certain situations and emotions. We gradually understand that dealing with those choices which led to emotion and experiences, is a deeper bond that we develop with our own self and with others – thus being mindful positively.

Towards the end of discussion, the template of GLAD – Gratitude, Learning, Accomplishment and Delight, was introduced to students and asked them to try and maintain this entry everyday or every week for a better enhanced lifestyle.

She concluded the session by answering all the doubts and questions asked by students and also, by telling the students to ask themselves before they take any stance of – ‘A deeper question to every question we have an answer for’ – which will help them understand to develop mindfulness and being aware of their consequences.

Activities Conducted:
Sensory Exercise was conducted by giving them M&Ms. Six questions were given displayed in front of students and they had to write answers in their notebooks. All the questions were about the five senses that we have, in relation to the chocolate given. The last question was about the emotion related to it.
St. Francis College for Women