Mindful Meditation for People with Cancer

Mindful meditation is a powerful tool for handling stress and anxiety in your life.

Australian psychologist Dr Lisbeth Lane guides you through the basics of mindfulness, allowing you to find some peace from your busy thoughts.

These simple exercises help you to take things one day at a time so you can focus more easily on the present, rather than worrying about the past or fearing the future.

Note - This recording encourages you to rest and relax. Please do not listen to these tracks while you are driving or if you need to remain alert.

Acknowledgement - We are grateful to Dr Lisbeth Lane from the Oncology Dept, Wollongong Hospital, for compiling and narrating this recording.

Music - "˜Karmic Ship'. Supplied by Getty Images.

Order a free copy of this CD by calling the Helpline on 13 11 20.

Mindful Meditation - For People With Cancer by cancercouncilnsw

*Anxiety is a common problem for people living with chronic, progressive diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, as well as, helping people with Cancer. Negative emotions like anxiety and resentment use up valuable energy that can better be directed to completing your daily chores and practising your vocation or hobbies you care about.

Managing your mind and emotions is a very important defensive strategy in dealing with depression, frustration and discouragement that can be part of living with a chronic illness.

LINK: http://soundcloud.com/cancercouncilnsw/sets/mindful-meditation

Positive Psychology given credence by Academia:

Positive psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.

Commentators on the subject Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, note that:

"The field of positive psychology at the subjective level is about valued subjective experiences: well-being, contentment, and satisfaction (in the past); hope and optimism (for the future); and flow and happiness (in the present).

At the individual level, it is about positive individual traits: the capacity for love and vocation, courage, interpersonal skill, aesthetic sensibility, perseverance, forgiveness, originality, future mindedness, spirituality, high talent, and wisdom.

At the group level, it is about the civic virtues and the institutions that move individuals toward better citizenship: responsibility, nurturance, altruism, civility, moderation,tolerance, and work ethic."