We work with organizations in the social development sector. When engaged in heart based work, we sometimes become focused on the other and we lose focus on the self of the community worker or the leader providing the service. We also tend to focus on the outcome of a program and lose touch with truly listening and responding to the actual needs in a community. When those engaging in heart based work turn towards and tend to their own hearts, they can be more fully present to the other with greater clarity and kindness.
We provide this critical input with our Mindfulness, Compassion and Presence oriented programs. We also work towards a whole organizational approach where mindfulness and presence is weaved into the organization’s functioning and it becomes the base from where decisions are made, allowing for a collective wisdom to emerge.
We have long-term partnership with Tara Mobile Creches and have also worked extensively with Deep Griha Society and with Akanksha counselors in Pune and Mumbai.
Any organization involved in the social development sector can approach us for a program for their organization interested in bringing Mindfulness, Presence, Deep Listening and Compassionate Dialogue to its members. You can request for an introductory section to have a taste of the program.
The sessions are mainly divided into four themes. These themes are explored over two to three years within an organization.
- The individual `self’: This includes self care being present to one’s own experience and working from a state of Presence.
- Interpersonal relationships: This involves being present in the relational space, deep listening and authentic and caring communication.
- Cultivating mindfulness as an organizational community: It includes practicing mindfulness as an organization and making decisions using this base.
- Reaching out to beneficiaries: Taking mindfulness practices to the organization’s beneficiaries and within their programs.
Each program is based on a needs assessment done with the organization.
The modalities used ensure an experiential understanding where learnings are facilitated rather than taught. Besides formal mindfulness and compassion meditation practices, we also use other modalities for exploration and self-expression through the use of art, clay, self-reflection, journaling, nature based explorations, drumming, discussions in dyads, triads and in groups, use of poetry, music and movement (as suitable to the group).
The rationale of using these modalities is to help bring people in connection with a non-conceptual understanding of Mindfulness and to a sense of ‘beingness’ within themselves. From this space comes deep clarity, wisdom and a natural opening of the heart. The cognitive aspects, self-reflection and facilitated discussions then help to weave these insights and connect it with everyday life experiences and how these insights might be applied in daily living, personally and professionally.
Our team of gifted facilitators who are trained in mindfulness and presence approaches conduct these programs under the mentorship of Sandy Andrade, our founder-director.
Do reach out to us at justbeingcenter@gmail.com and share what are you looking for.
