Mindful Living with Purpose & Resilience (MLPR)
Barbara Minsker teaches and lives by an approach called Mindful Living with Purpose and Resilience (MLPR). MLPR is a synthesis of three proven personal development approaches: mindfulness, resilience, and living with purpose. The origins and benefits of each of these approaches are given below.
Mindfulness has been practiced by Buddhists and others for thousands of years, but has only recently captured the attention of Western medicine and business for its benefits to health, wellbeing, productivity, and creativity. Jon Kabat-Zinn created the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School's Center for Mindfulness (CFM) to disseminate Buddhist practices within a secular framework. He defines mindfulness as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” Numerous studies (e.g., Holzel and others, 2011 and Shapiro and others, 2006) show that intentionally practicing mindfulness on a regular basis reduces fatigue, stress, depression, and anxiety, and improves attention, memory, creativity, and executive functioning (the brain's ability to make wise decisions in managing life's tasks). Brain images from neuroscience studies (see, e.g., Richard Davidson's Emotional Life of Your Brain) have shown how these shifts literally rewire the brain for improved emotional intelligence. Barbara has been trained at CFM and affiliated programs to ensure that the mindfulness teachings provide you with proven success.
Resilience training was developed by the military for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD), but studies have shown that its benefits extend to anyone facing stress of any kind. Dr. Glenn Schiraldi of Resilience Training International, who is a resilience instructor at the Pentagon and University of Maryland School of Public Health, defines resilience as “the strengths of an individual, both innate and developed, that enable one to adapt well to adversity.” The MPLR program incorporates exercises adapted from Dr. Schiraldi's book, The Complete Guide to Resilience, as well as resilience approaches from the Center for Authentic Leadership (CAL).
Living with Purpose means that you identify what activities and relationships are most important to you and then focus your attention on them. This is called “setting your compass to the path of success and happiness." And, of course, mindfulness and resilience methods will help you stay on that path for the long run, adapting as needed. The idea of living with purpose has been around in popular culture for some time and has been embraced by the medical community as the “C” in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Barbara uses powerful approaches to purposeful living that are adapted from CAL and Play Your Bigger Game by Rick Tamlyn.
