In this podcast I go into a brief talk about inviting in a child-like mind state. By doing so we invite curiosity to take the lead. This can open new doors to creativity and problem solving that otherwise may be hindered by all the what ifs that exist in our adult minds. In the mindfulness world we talk about this as the beginners mind. Everything is a new opportunity to start over and begin again. This talk followed by a guided meditation will help you do just that.

This 13 minute guided meditation will take you on a trip through your body. I will prompt you to make subtle movements as you go, then finding stillness. Doing so can help those who are having a hard time settling into stillness.

In this episode I reference 2 books, "Start With Why" by Simon Sinek and "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. I talk about how meditation and mindfulness can help us find our why. The why and the how of our lives stem from the emotional centers of the brain. Because there is no capacity for language in these centers, describing our how and why can be difficult. By meditating on these elements we can start to define what our why is and find it more readily.

Using the metaphor of origami we look at the act of unfolding and how we can apply it to our practice. This meditation is about 14 minutes long and can help offer as a point of reflection for your current state and maybe digging into anything that needs to change.

In this meditation you are invited to visualize yourself in the process of unfolding. We use this metaphor in meditation to help conceptualize those issues in life that we are ready to let go of. This process involves growth and observing ourselves growing, unfurling and changing can help this process in the mind. This meditation does involve asking the full moon as a guide. Asking your guides for wisdom is an ancient tradition and one that can bring some comfort to the practitioner. I recorded this during the full moon but you can use this meditation at anytime when you feel there is an answer you are looking for.

Using a body scan, we travel inward to help find certianty in the body. When the world can feel very uncertain and chaotic, we can tune to the body to remind us of what is true and reliable. We can tap into the breath or our heartbeat to remember that there are pieces of life that we can depend on. This type of meditation can be very grounding to the nervous system. Moving the attention around the body can also be a bit easier to maintain focus, especially for beginner meditators.

In this episode I discuss the behaviour of making assumptions. Through mindfulness we can make better decisions including not making them based on assumptions. Assuming is based in the future or the past. By being mindful, we move into the present and we learn how to make decisions based on the information at hand, not through story created in the mind.

In this episode I invite my friend Kristen to help me describe the concept of watching the world wake up through mindfulness. Kristen and I met at a silent retreat 5 years ago and continue to practice together and share our perspectives on mindfulness and meditation. This episode is more of a discussion and does not include a guided meditation. It offers some practical explanations of popular practices and how you can apply them to life and your business.

In this episode, April brings you to one of her favorite places, Jasper Park Lodge. While here, she shows you the power of reflective practice after a difficult time. Using the cycles of nature as an analogy, April guides you through a practice of noticing sensation as ever-changing. By doing so, we learn to accept what is, in the moment. April also references a past podcast where she was a guest of Ryan West. On his podcast, Revealing Healing, she tells the story of a year ago where she suffered a severe back injury. You may want to listen to that episode first to get the full context of what April is referencing in this episode (but it's not necessary). You can find Ryan's podcast on all the regular platforms. Hope you enjoy this episode. As always, you can reach April on Instagram @8_Elements, or on her website, www.aprilprescott.com.

In living mindfully we learn to embrace that life is change. When we can accept the challenges that come our way and how we are changed by them, it can reduce our suffering. By using the analogy of the mountain, April guides you through embracing transformation. Followed by a guided meditation, this episode is just what you need to help you weather any storm.