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In The Mindful People Series, we interview people from different walks of life and get them to share their mindfulness experience, as well as how learning and practicing mindfulness have made a difference to their personal and professional lives.  MiMo: How did you get into learning and practicing mindfulness? Gwen: Through a couple of articles that I read online about Mindfulness, I am always curious about how it works and to experience the effect personally rather than through the readings online. As I was reaching a state of stagnation and was searching for courses to enrich my life, this course caught my attention. MiMo: Tell us about your experience in the MBSR program. Gwen: It was an experiential learning experience for me. Without focusing on spirituality, the secular mindfulness classes showed me many ways of practicing mindfulness, it definitely allowed to me to customize my own way of practicing on a day to day basis. The group experience of practicing together also allowed me to seek comfort and support. Love to see how people find time for themselves in the midst of the fast paced society regardless of the different roles we hold. MiMo: How has mindfulness contributed to your personal well-being? Gwen: I love the process of self discovery in the midst of practicing. Understanding how my body experienced stresses, how my mind always wandered to "what's next" and my inner need of yearning for positive emotions. Most importantly, letting go and not holding on to any self judgement in the process of self realization. MiMo: How has mindfulness supported you in your professional work? Gwen: As a social worker, I work with different people on a daily basis. People from different walks of life, having different beliefs, values and expectations of others. Work can get tough especially when trying to balance relationships with different stakeholders while not compromising outcomes. In the midst of helping and supporting others, it is inevitable that we will face stresses and problems of others which led to me losing sight of myself in the process of it. Now with efforts of being mindful, I take notice and place focus on my emotional and mental well-being while responding to the needs of others. Not just to the direct beneficiaries, but also to my colleagues and the different stakeholders in my professional work. I learnt to take ownership of my own well-being so that I can better take care of others in need too. Hopefully one day, I can bring mindfulness in my work to the beneficiaries. :) MiMo: How have you incorporated mindfulness into your daily life? Gwen: I learnt to take things slower, allowing myself to appreciate the process of my usual mundane routine. Routines such as brushing teeth, drinking coffee and the walk to the bus stop were more fun when incorporating mindfulness. Noticing new experiences each day, discovering a different side of life. The formal practices placed discipline in me to set aside time for myself - my physical, emotional and mental well being. Love how I can end the day by just focusing on myself rather than thinking about my work for the next day. MiMo: Any words of advice for people who are thinking about learning mindfulness? Gwen: Practicing mindfulness is do-able and sustainable. Little steps towards mindfulness do make an impact to your life. Let the journey of self discovery begins. :)  About Gwen Ho Gwen worked as a senior social worker in the social service sector supporting young offenders, youths at risk of delinquency, and young persons who experienced social-emotional issues. With relationship building as the key driver for her professional work, Gwen believes strongly that knowing herself allows her to remain genuine in the process of touching the lives of young people. Mindfulness played a crucial part to her journey of self discovery. Are you a mindfulness practitioner or do you know one who would like to share their mindfulness experience on the MiMo blog? Do drop us a message!
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In The Mindful People Series, we interview people from different walks of life and get them to share their mindfulness experience, as well as how learning and practicing mindfulness have made a difference to their personal and professional lives.  MiMo: How did you get into learning and practicing mindfulness? CHS: I have always been keen to know why some individuals are able to cope with stress better than others. I have learned to notice that individuals who are able to cope with daily stress have a much happier and better quality life. My life took a turn in the early morning of 2015, when I suffered a massive cardiac arrest. That week was a very stressful week as I had to juggle work and at the same time prepare for my thesis. Later, I was told that my heart had stopped and I had collapsed while on my way to the library. I was rushed to the hospital and had an emergency procedure to remove the blockage. The doctor told me how lucky I was and the situation would have been different if I had arrived a minute later. I could not remember much except while regaining consciousness, there was a sense of regret as well as anger. I was not prepared to give up my life and felt that GOD must have made a mistake. “Clinically dead” was what the doctor told me that I had experienced; and as a result, there was an extensive damage to my heart. It has been about three years now, and I am still able to keep up with my daily 6 km walk. Now I joke about my NDE (near death experience) and the reason that I am around is because “I have forgotten to bring my MRT card while I was up there, and was thus denied entry”. Being a perfectionist, I enjoy demanding and challenging environments. This could be due to my formal training as a mental toughness and performance coach. I was blessed to have friends who recommended the mindfulness program to me, and that was how I came to know about Erin’s MBSR program. I have never regret that decision! MiMo: Tell us about your experience in the MBSR program. CHS: Every student would ask the same questions and that is whether this is the right course for them; what could they learn from this course; and how to survive the 8 weeks? I realized that not only was the program aligned to my needs, the instructions given were also clear and easy to follow. After a minute or two, Erin had me! I enjoyed the guided instructions and various class practices. It was a refreshing experience to my whole being and yet not demanding. The group discussions and sharing sessions were good and every participant had the opportunity to share their experiences. The after-class recap of the day's practice which was sent out after each session, was very helpful. It gave me the chance to reflect upon them for my home practice. I loved the mindful walking practice and it made my daily walk more enjoyable than before. I learned to appreciate and pay attention to walking, without rushing and with open awareness of my surroundings. Not only does it bring awareness to the body, it also brings calmness and clarity to the mind. MiMo: How has mindfulness contributed to your personal well-being? CHS: I have learned to manage my expectations of others. Being less judgemental and to accept situations as they are, have helped me be more composed when dealing with others. When situations arise, I learned to be more appreciative of the circumstances and accept those circumstances as new experiences. Listening more and accepting things as they are, I discovered that I am able to manage my stress level. For example, taking a breather such as a walk to the cooler corner or shifting my attention to somewhere for a short moment will help to calm the mind. The essence of mindfulness is all about non-judgment, patience, trust, and accepting the way things are. Practicing and embracing mindfulness in my daily activities have helped me to manage my stress level and emotions. This has not just benefitted my personal well-being, but also others who are around me. MiMo: How has mindfulness supported you in your professional work? CHS: Instead of pushing and demanding for results all the time, I have learned to take a step back to check my thoughts, feelings, intentions and behaviours before responding to the situation. I noticed that my colleagues are more at ease when they have issues to discuss. Mindfulness practice has opened me up to new experiences, especially in making me a better listener by being in the moment. By being non-critical and non-judgemental, I can now appreciate others' efforts in wanting to make good things happen. This new experience has helped me shape my thoughts and management style. Not only does mindfulness practice help reduce stress in the workplace, it also helps me get things done faster as people are now happier and more open. MiMo: How have you incorporated mindfulness into your daily life? CHS: Whenever there are opportunities, I will always incorporate mindfulness into my daily life. Be it at work, with friends, business associates or family. Every day we need to face challenges or engage in simple daily routine activities. Through daily mindfulness practice, one can enjoy a less stressful experience and an abundance of joy. One important lesson that I learned in the program is “Loving Kindness”. To me, that is an important part of the essence of mindfulness practice. Only with “Loving Kindness” can one understand the meaning of being non-judgemental towards another. This has helped improve my relationships with others, create better understanding, appreciate everyone's strengths and weaknesses, and this in turn brings acceptance. MiMo: Any words of advice for people who are thinking about learning mindfulness? CHS: Go with an open mind and see how the program will impact you personally and in other aspects. At the end of the program, there must be some transformation in your life. Such transformation can only be achieved through daily and conscientious practice. The beauty of mindfulness practice is that you can practice whenever you want and wherever you are. Be it resting, having a meal, walking or any activities you are doing, you can practice mindfulness. The results of such mindfulness practice are a tendency to feel less stressful, more appreciative, non-judgmental, and to have a quality of life that will benefit you, your friends and family.  About Hock Soon Hock Soon is a strong believer and advocate of achieving “Excellence” through lifelong learning. At the age of 58, he pursued his interest in Psychology at UC (Berkeley), and thereafter attained his postgraduate qualification in Business Psychology studies from Scotland. He is currently a Certified Mental Toughness Coach from the Mental Toughness Research Institute (MTRI) in the United States. He does performance and mental toughness coaching for business leaders and individuals. Hock Soon also has a specialized diploma in Child Psychology and Learning Disorder Management. He takes time off his busy schedule at work to help children with learning disabilities as a volunteer. He is also actively involved in various social projects, namely, The SGH Liver & Pancreas Cancer Support Group, The Disadvantage and Disabled Group, and other social enterprise community projects. Hock Soon believes that “to live a meaningful life, one must also be able to bring joy to others”. Mindfulness training has helped him understand and find the true meaning and purpose of life. Throughout his career, Hock Soon has won numerous awards and accolades, including the Public Service Medal and Lifelong Learning award. Hock Soon enjoys competitive sports and holds a black belt in martial arts, and is a marksman. Hock Soon believes that his mindfulness practice complements his mental toughness training and helps him to achieve his goals with much less stress. Are you a mindfulness practitioner or do you know one who would like to share their mindfulness experience on the MiMo blog? Do drop us a message!
In The Mindful People Series, we interview people from different walks of life and get them to share their mindfulness experience, as well as how learning and practicing mindfulness have made a difference to their personal and professional lives.  MiMo: How did you get into learning and practicing mindfulness? Pei Fen: I had no previous experience with mindfulness practice but had heard it being used in undergraduates’ settings to reduce students’ stresses. I attended the preview session with Erin and signed up through the SkillsFuture program. MiMo: Tell us about your experience in the MBSR program. Pei Fen: I thought the 8 weeks were necessary as it gave us enough time to practice and explore various mindfulness practices. It was only when we could appreciate the bodily effects of mindfulness practice were we able to relate it to our daily lives. In fact, many of us experiences the positive effects of the MBSR programs 2-3 weeks into the practice. I have benefited much from my classmates during the program; the sharing sessions provided non-judgemental assurance since we experienced similar struggles. MiMo: How has mindfulness contributed to your personal well-being? Pei Fen: Having the knowledge and experiences of being in a mindful state of mind provides a distinct contrast to being in a frantic, restless state. First, having the awareness of myself being in a fanatic state allow me a choice to remain frantic or go for a change. Although I have just completed the 8 weeks of MBSR program, I am a more restful person than before and I am able to spot frantic moments and centre myself to focus faster. MiMo: How has mindfulness supported you in your professional work? Pei Fen: My work as a registered nurse involves countless moments of multi-tasking. Multi-tasking is seen as a virtue in many cases. However, I can name at least two moments that full attention is mandatory. First the administration of medications deserves full attention from the administrator, to reduce the risk of medication error. Secondly, being present when we are communicating with anxious or grieving caregivers. Having mindfulness skills and awareness allow me the control of my attention during important situations as such. These behaviours could improve both patient safety and experiences during their hospital admission. MiMo: How have you incorporated mindfulness into your daily life? Pei Fen: Being a fresh graduate of the course, mindfulness doesn’t come automatically. It does require a conscious effort to choose mindfulness over the hectic daily routine we so often live by. I’ve chosen mindful eating as a daily practice in appreciation of food and health. In terms of work-related stress, mindfulness has given me the opportunity to “take a pause” and to respond to difficult conversations or work arrangements. MiMo: Any words of advice for people who are thinking about learning mindfulness? Pei Fen: Explore with an open mind; we live in a shared world where many things are not within our control. However, learning mindfulness will allow us the control over one of the most powerful organs - our mind. Which can then in return allow us to shape our perspectives for all things. About Poh Pei Fen
A registered nurse, privileged to be working with ill children. In addition to the provision of care to the patients, pediatric nurses take care of the families as well. Mindfulness practices allow Pei Fen to remain centered during emergencies and the ability to provide emotional support to people even in the face of death. In The Mindful People Series, we interview people from different walks of life and get them to share their mindfulness experience, as well as how learning and practicing mindfulness have made a difference to their personal and professional lives.  MiMo: How did you get into learning and practicing mindfulness? Eileen: I have always been curious about why people practice mediation or mindfulness, since they always share the many positive outcomes and benefits from their practice. By chance I read about the MBSR program and went for the preview session, which led me to signing up for the program with the SkillsFuture credits available. I attended the MBSR program with an open mind and hoped to learn how the practice could help me improve both my daily and work life. MiMo: Tell us about your experience in the MBSR program. Eileen: It was an amazing 8-week journey, especially with the interesting sharing sessions among the participants. Everyone had somewhat similar and yet different outcomes from the weekly practices. I also enjoyed the mindfulness practices as there was no need to have a particular outcome from the practices. We simply practiced to explore how we could integrate both formal and informal mindfulness into our daily life. MiMo: How has mindfulness contributed to your personal well-being? Eileen: My biggest takeaway from the program is that it has helped me to become more aware of things around me and to learn to appreciate them. Instead of always having the need to engage with thoughts or physical sensations, I am learning to rest with them from moment to moment. I find the teachings on Stress Reactivity and Stress Response very beneficial as we learned that we have choices other than reacting negatively out of habit. MiMo: How has mindfulness supported you in your professional work? Eileen: I have found that I am always too quick to react and make judgements; and having learned and practiced mindfulness, I will now do my best to take a mindful pause before reacting and try not to be unnecessarily judgmental. MiMo: How have you incorporated mindfulness into your daily life? Eileen: Mindfulness in MBSR includes practicing in various postures in both stillness and movement, and hence it supports me in many aspects of my life. The movements practice has encouraged me to sign up for yoga classes for my long-term wellbeing, and I plan to incorporate mindful awareness during yoga practice. MiMo: Any words of advice for people who are thinking about learning mindfulness? Eileen: Go in with an open mind, learn the different practices and apply what works best for you. You will learn to appreciate things and people more and to not be too judgmental. You will learn how you are able to manage stress better and how to bring a mindful pause to break our reactive patterns, as well as change our relationship with stress.  About Eileen Foo Being a HR Practitioner with an MNC in retail requires me to work with both internal and external clients from different parts of the world. We need to be aware of the different work and personal cultures so as to build trusting and good relationships. I always do things with an open mind by accepting changes as part of life's process, and I believe that change is always for the better. My personal interests have evolved over time and I am now more focused on developing my personal wellbeing both physically and mentally; I believe that having a healthy mind is just as important as having a healthy body. Traveling is my biggest love and I am now exploring more off-track places as well as challenging activities during my travels, such as caving, water rafting and trekking. My belief in life is to have inner peace that will lead to happiness as well as a healthy mind and body. Are you a mindfulness practitioner or do you know one who would like to share their mindfulness experience on the MiMo blog? Do drop us a message!
In The Mindful People Series, we interview people from different walks of life and get them to share their mindfulness experience, as well as how learning and practicing mindfulness have made a difference to their personal and professional lives.  MiMo: How did you get into learning and practicing mindfulness? Chris: In our mindless rat race, overtime, I have lost sight of what I really wanted in life. Stress and pressure were like adrenaline rush pushing me to do more and more. I just wanted to achieve as much as possible in the shortest time frame. The question is, to achieve what, and for whom? I was always in a hurry, irritable, and impatient. Finally my body gave up. I was hospitalised for a week. That was a wake up call. It started me on a journey to better care for myself. Eventually, I quit to join my then girlfriend who was working in Japan. I have been ‘unemployed’ ever since. But never been happier. I now realise what I want in life is very simple - to be healthy, happy, and to bring love and joy to those important to me, amid with a certain level of material comfort. However, there is something still missing. Maybe it was the years of stress that altered my brain, or maybe I was born like this, no matter what I do, however hard I try, my mind is always churning, ruminating with endless self conversation. My anxiety which I had always thought to be normal simple nervousness was causing my medical condition to flare up. It was also wreaking havoc with my brain and my ability to handle situations. I was introduced to breathing exercises and daily morning walks which really helped. It piqued my interest for a more comprehensive formal system which I found in MBSR. Amongst the many types of mediation, I preferred MBSR for its secular based approach backed by firm scientific basis. It seemed like a perfect fit, the last piece of the puzzle in my pursuit for happiness. MiMo: Tell us about your experience in the MBSR program. Chris: It was a great learning journey. I was looking forward to our weekly session and the 1 day silent retreat was especially beneficial. After each session I felt recharged and calm at the same time. It was a great way to end the week and start the next. Erin was very supportive and knowledgable, providing a safe and comfortable environment for us to share and express any concerns or queries. Each session moved according to our pace, never too rush, never too slow. MiMo: How has mindfulness contributed to your personal well-being? Chris: I feel more calm, less anger, less anxiety, and perhaps most importantly, I am able to better control, sometimes even stop, the endless ruminating thoughts/conversations in my mind. I feel a lot more in control of my thoughts and emotions. I’ve learnt and realise how I can either allow myself to be upset and angry, and then exhausted, or to simply notice the antagoniser and not engage it or allow it to affect my emotions. I think one of the few more immediately obvious example, for me, is when I am driving, I am no longer as bothered by all the impatient inconsiderate drivers on our roads. I’ve learnt to let it be and not engage it and allow them to affect me. Driving has become a lot more peaceful. MiMo: How has mindfulness supported you in your professional work? Chris: I have chosen a very different path from many others. Being different brings about many self-doubts. Did I make the right choice, am I on the right path, will I regret later. All these doubts are further amplified when my peers have all progressed so much, climbed the ladder so high. It is not so much of envy, but the fear of regretting, especially when it is increasingly becoming too late to turn back. All these self doubts take precious time away, it affects my concentration, lowers my productivity. With mindfulness, I am better aware of what my mind is up to, and how I should handle it. The various exercises I’ve learnt are very useful in bringing my focus back to the present. Now, when I am tired, distracted, procrastinating, or simply just bored, I try to either do a short sitting or movement exercise. It helps to reset and refresh my mind. MiMo: How have you incorporated mindfulness into your daily life? Chris: I am slowly making mindfulness a part of my life and routine. I try to start and end my day with a sitting exercise. During the day, when I sit too long in front of the computer, I try to incorporate mindfulness into simple yoga stretching exercises to loosen up a bit. Whenever I am tired, stressed or anxious, I will do a short sitting exercise. I try to squeeze in some form of mindfulness whenever possible, like when I am walking or when I am on the bus. The only mindfulness practice I still have problem doing is mindful eating. That is still a bit of a challenge for me. MiMo: Any words of advice for people who are thinking about learning mindfulness? Chris: I would say give it a try with an open mind. Some might accept everything without any problem, others might have many questions. For me, I have many questions for which I am slowly seeking answers for. Having questions is not a bad thing. It merely signifies the start of your journey into mindfulness and meditation. I started wanting to learn how to meditate using the MBSR approach, along the way many questions came about. Erin patiently explained as much as she could. There are still many areas I do not quite understand. Truth is, the course might not be able to answer all your questions. I don’t think it is meant to do that. It is merely to start you on a journey and equip you with the questions which with practice and time, one will hopefully find the answers.  About Chris Quek In servitude as Chauffeur, Personal Chef, Nutritionist, House-keeper, Holiday-planner and Investment Consultant to my wife. In between down time, I try to make some spending money trading the market, and selling stock photos since I do not get much allowance. When time permits, I revert to my primal self - nua-ing (lazing around) and stoning. I can be found staring into blank space almost anywhere. Now I will do it mindfully. Are you a mindfulness practitioner or do you know one who would like to share their mindfulness experience on the MiMo blog? Do drop us a message!
In The Mindful People Series, we interview people from different walks of life and get them to share their mindfulness experience, as well as how learning and practicing mindfulness have made a difference to their personal and professional lives.  MiMo: How did you get into learning and practicing mindfulness? Pui Yee: I was exposed to mindfulness some years back through a short meditation class that I’ve attended. My interest in learning and practicing mindfulness was renewed when a friend of mine introduced me to the MBSR program. MiMo: Tell us about your experience in the MBSR program. Pui Yee: The MBSR program appealed to my ‘rational’ self as I wanted a structured and secular way to familiarize myself with this body of knowledge. The program certainly lived up to my expectations. The inquiry sessions were particularly useful in sharing insights and challenges with my fellow participants. In addition, I have learnt various mindfulness techniques during the program and I now incorporate them into my daily activities. Finally, it would be remiss of me if I didn’t mention the instrumental role that Erin played as a coach, facilitator and teacher. MiMo: How has mindfulness contributed to your personal well-being? Pui Yee: It takes time, effort and commitment to cultivate and practice mindfulness. Although I have just started on my mindfulness journey, I already noticed that I am more cognizant of my thoughts, emotions and actions as well as their impact on my overall state of well-being and those around me. MiMo: How has mindfulness supported you in your professional work? Pui Yee: At work, I have learnt to appreciate the importance of taking a pause whenever I am confronted with a difficult or stressful situation. It is amazing how a short minute or two that’s well spent (or, for that matter, a single mindful breath) can neutralize my negative (yet instinctive) emotions and reactions. MiMo: How have you incorporated mindfulness into your daily life? Pui Yee: For a start, I made a decision to set aside 30min every day for a formal practice. This is complemented by making a conscious effort to become more aware and mindful in my daily activities. That said, I confess that mindful eating is still something that I have yet to learn to appreciate! MiMo: Any words of advice for people who are thinking about learning mindfulness? Pui Yee: Stop thinking. As the saying goes – the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The time is NOW. ------ About Pui Yee Pui Yee prides herself as a global citizen. Aside from being an avid traveler, her banking and finance career has given her the opportunity to work and live in London, Brussels, Shanghai and Hong Kong. She also spent a year in France in the name of pursuing a further degree. Paradoxically, it is this extensive international exposure that has prompted Pui Yee to become more introspect. Are you a mindfulness practitioner or do you know one who would like to share their mindfulness experience on the MiMo blog? Do drop us a message!
In The Mindful People Series, we interview people from different walks of life and get them to share their mindfulness experience, as well as how learning and practicing mindfulness have made a difference to their personal and professional lives   MiMo: How did you get into learning and practicing mindfulness?
Sherry: I was given heavy responsibilities at work and dealt with stakeholders who demanded a lot of time and energy. I would start each work day feeling unrested and drained, and over time I had to summon a lot of self-control and use a great sense of responsibility to complete whatever I needed to do. Other challenges in life depleted my energy further and I needed to find a better and more constructive way to manage my stress and mental fatigue. After months of social isolation, I met up with a friend who benefited from Erin’s MBSR program so I started reading up about mindfulness and discovered that it was exactly the skills I needed to handle life’s challenges! MiMo: Tell us about your experience in the MBSR program. Sherry: Erin gave us weekly practices with guided meditation audio recordings to keep up with daily meditation. These weekly practices helped me to reflect on how I had been dealing with life and how I can apply mindfulness for better quality of life. When things were busy at work, it was tempting to skip practices but the MBSR program will be effective only if one makes the best out of these 8 weeks and follows the weekly practices closely. The Circle of Awareness to break the habit loops and Erin’s theoretical explanations about MBSR were most helpful to me as it clearly articulates the neuroscience behind why the MBSR program will work. The 1-day silent retreat was my favourite part of the program as it was only at the retreat that I felt like “I finally got it!” – I was better able to embrace the skills taught in the first 5 weeks and understood how meditation can be practised on-the-go, every day, every moment! MiMo: How has mindfulness contributed to your personal well-being? Sherry: Mindfulness has helped me to look inward and gain fresh perspectives about life’s challenges. It has helped me to reduce mental noise and break habits of cyclical thinking to be more present with life’s moments. I realized that the anxiety and worries in everyday life could be halted simply by being more aware of the present and to let things “be”, instead of doubting and judging whether things should be another way (in the past) or could be a certain way (in the future). I am able to build my natural resilience by acknowledging the present difficult situation with the help of mindful breathing and then calmly deciding my next course of action without unnecessarily depleting my mental (or physical) energy. I am also better able to appreciate the present for what it “is”. MiMo: How has mindfulness supported you in your professional work? Sherry: I am better able to manage my anxiety and be more open-minded to alternative approaches to issues at work. I can appreciate each moment better instead of constantly worrying about the next task. Whenever I encounter challenging situations or people at work, I am better able to re-centre my mind so as not to emotionally engage with the situation or person. I have also learnt to be less judgmental of my negative emotions and thoughts and acknowledge them instead of berating myself for having them. MiMo: How have you incorporated mindfulness into your daily life? Sherry: I do simple meditation practices daily to take a pause from the hectic work schedule and improve my foundation in mindful living. Instead of habitual cyclical thinking, mindfulness brings me back to the present moment and reduces my anxiety. It helps me to be appreciative of life and embrace its moments, to be kinder to myself so that I can extend compassion to others. Whenever I encounter a stressful situation, I am able to break the stress reactivity cycle through mindful breathing so that I can respond more constructively. MiMo: Any words of advice for people who are thinking about learning mindfulness? Sherry: Mindfulness reminds us to “be” as we are and helps us learn to accept life and its challenges as they come. We are caught up in “doing” things, searching for solutions by constantly analysing problems. Our minds are overworked and we feel unrested and continue this cycle either until we bounce back by seeking a change (which might or might not be helpful), or until we want to end our suffering. By practising mindfulness, we do not forget or escape from our challenges, and still need to face them and overcome them eventually, but we can handle stressful situations more constructively and not destroy ourselves in the process. By observing stressful feelings moment by moment and noticing things as they are, we can allow our minds to rest, then return to it when we are less emotional and more rational to handle it. ------ About Sherry Lim Sherry grew up in Singapore and has worked in the education industry for more than five years. Through her work, she seeks to understand how people learn, and why people are the way they are. She enjoys reading books and articles, particularly in the areas of neuroscience and psychology, to complement her work. She is an avid seeker of meaningful experiences and loves to learn new things across varied topics. She believes in balanced living and is self-motivated in doing at-home workouts, eating a variety of foods, and practising mindfulness in protecting one’s physical, emotional and mental health. Are you a mindfulness practitioner or do you know one who would like to share their mindfulness experience on the MiMo blog? Do drop us a message! In The Mindful People Series, we interview people from different walks of life and get them to share their mindfulness experience, as well as how learning and practicing mindfulness have made a difference to their personal and professional lives  MiMo: How did you get into learning and practicing mindfulness? David: I am a curious and adventurous person who is always eager to learn new things. As a trainer and organization consultant, I am always looking for new ways and techniques to constantly remind myself to have a clear mind and engage events with different perspectives. As a practitioner of NLP (Psychological) and Whole Brain Thinking Metaphor (Social), I want to enhance in the area of Physiology. Therefore, searching the Internet, I chanced upon the practice of Mindfulness. MiMo: Tell us about your experience in the MBSR program. David: It has been an eye opener and great experience. My course mates were great. Initially, it was a tough challenge to attend all the weekend classes. After the first three lessons and daily practices, I realized that I was experiencing different physical experiences. Erin was great. She was always very patient and helped us overcome detractors during the practices. The frequent weekly group sharing was very motivating and encouraging. I could see that towards the end of the course, most of my course mates were very different in their physical appearances and were engaging people with very positive body gestures. MiMo: How has mindfulness contributed to your personal well-being? David: I am beginning to enjoy my surroundings better, becoming more patient with events happening daily, and more importantly, appreciating things from a different perspective. I am also able to recognize the physical sensations I feel when I am about to burst, and I am able to manage myself well before I exploded. MiMo: How has mindfulness supported you in your professional work? David: It has helped me to maintain a clear mind where at times my work can be very overwhelming ("Mind Full"). I am also able to integrate Mindfulness into my training agenda and help my clients/students cope better with the mental, social and physical aspects of their lives. MiMo: How have you incorporated mindfulness into your daily life? David: I have been making it a point to continue the daily practices whenever possible amidst my daily activities. MiMo: Any words of advice for people who are thinking about learning mindfulness? David: It is a great practice that I would say all humans should learn and practice. It has very diverse benefits and suits people from all walks of life. ------  About David Ong David has more than 25 years of Managing, Developing and Training Human Capital both local and regional countries which includes, Japan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and various provinces of China. His vast training experiences and travels make him a close Business Consultant with numerous corporations, partnering them in their Organization Development in areas related to Values and Culture, Training Needs Analysis, Training Evaluation and Leadership Competency Model. His niche areas are delivering Leadership Competency Related Programs; ie, Project Management, Change Management, Decision Making, Problem Solving, Creativity, Innovation, Negotiations, Diversity Management, Team Enhancement, Communications, People Skills and Human Behavioral Science(Psychology/Sociology). His passion in Human Behavioral Science has seen him further studied in the fields of Education-Adult Learning and Psychology-Behaviors. Are you a mindfulness practitioner or do you know one who would like to share their mindfulness experience on the MiMo blog? Do drop us a message!
In The Mindful People Series, we interview people from different walks of life and get them to share their mindfulness experience, as well as how learning and practicing mindfulness have made a difference to their personal and professional lives.  MiMo: How did you get into learning and practicing mindfulness? Kim: I have been exposed to the word "mindfulness" from social media articles and friends. I was curious what it really was because I read that mindfulness can help me cope better. At the time, I was facing anxiety issues and it surely does not feel good. From a friend's facebook, I chanced upon Erin's postings on mindfulness and the MBSR program. I went for the MBSR preview session and began my journey of mindfulness. MiMo: Tell us about your experience in the MBSR program. Kim: Having gone through the MBSR program, I felt it was an enriching, life changing and an enjoyable experience. I enjoy and really appreciate that most of the time we were hands-on practising the mindfulness techniques and exercises. Ultimately, these are the practical portions I have to be mindful to practise in reality after the MBSR program ended. We also get to share our experiences after the practice in an assuring and non-judgmental environment. Through the facilitation by Erin, I got to learn how everyone experiences mindfulness differently in their own way. We had a Silent Mindfulness Retreat and it was an amazing experience that we got to practise all of the mindfulness exercises in a calming and relaxing environment, with no distractions from our mobile gadgets. I really enjoyed it. I found it very therapeutic, fulfilling and satisfying. I deeply appreciate that Erin is a welcoming and friendly coach who makes the environment safe and conducive for great learning. MiMo: How has mindfulness contributed to your personal well-being? Kim: Mindfulness has helped me to cope better with my anxiety and esteem issues. By knowing the fact that mindfulness itself can help alleviate stressful states of mind, is already a huge help in the form of hope for me. In times of stressful situations, by taking a pause and being mindful, it brought myself back to the moment and reminded myself to not get involved with the negativity that was going on in my mind. MiMo: How has mindfulness supported you in your professional work? Kim: Being a Herbalife Wellness Coach, I interact with students and clients from different walks of life who carries different expectations in their health and weight management journey. Mindfulness has allowed me to learn that everyone is so unique and different in the way they think, feel and behave. It helped me to focus better to empathise and understand the needs of my clients better without judgments, by being in the moment. Also, I was able to share about mindfulness and mentor my fellow wellness coaches how mindfulness can benefit in helping them focus and keeping them on track to their commitments and responsibilities. MiMo: How have you incorporated mindfulness into your daily life? Kim: To quote an example, when I take the public transportation and feeling anxious, worrying whether I will be on time for my appointment. By "Taking a pause" through a deep breathing and feeling the physical sensation of my feet touching the ground, I was able to bring myself back to that awareness and assurance to be kind to myself to appreciate that moment, alleviating the stress. Time to time, I reminded myself to simply observe and watch my own negative emotions (in the form of vehicles and clouds), and not getting involved with them. MiMo: Any words of advice for people who are thinking about learning mindfulness? Kim: I strongly encourage anyone who is thinking about learning mindfulness to just go for it. To achieve something that we have never achieved before, we need to do something we have never done before. For things to change, we have to change. For things to get better, we have to be better. If not for taking the step to learn mindfulness, I would not have learnt the skills that can help me lower my anxiety issues and cope better with life.
--- About Sim Kang Kim Kim is a passionate Dance Fitness Instructor & Herbalife Wellness Coach. She holds a NUS Bachelor Honours Degree of Arts and Social Sciences (Second Class Honours, Upper Division), majoring in Social Work. She has a latin ballroom dance background and attained the Title of the Champion for Macpherson's Got Talent in 2016. Being a wellness entrepreneur, Kang Kim not only specialises in Nutrition & Weight Management Personalised Coaching locally and internationally, she also mentors anyone who would an extra income or who are seeking for a business opportunity. She is AFAA-accreditated and attained certifications in AFAA Group Resistance Training, Sunrise Yoga, Standard First Aid, CPR and AED, Zumba® Fitness Basic 1 and 2, Zumba® Gold, Zumba® Toning, AquaZumba®, Zumba® Sentao, Zumba® Kids, Zumba® Junior, Zumba® Pro Skills, KpopX Fitness, Hot Hula Fitness, Super Body Super Brain, TRX Group Suspension. Are you a mindfulness practitioner or do you know one who would like to share their mindfulness experience on the MiMo blog? Do drop us a message!
In The Mindful People Series, we interview people from different walks of life and get them to share their mindfulness experience, as well as how learning and practicing mindfulness have made a difference to their personal and professional lives.  MiMo: How did you get into learning and practicing mindfulness? AR: We live in a world that is moving and evolving too fast, change is the only constant in today's day and age. Hence, stress levels are endemic. While a lot of us focus on physical health, the awareness and attention being given to mental health is still nascent. At some point last year, I decided to rewire my routine and make it more balanced. I decided to focus on my mental wellness too. This led me to the Plum Village group in Singapore which was my first tryst with mindfulness practices. Furthermore, I started reading a book on Buddhism where I learnt about Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and the MBSR program. Being an engineer, this instantly caught my attention since the program has a scientific basis to it! MiMo: Tell us about your experience in the MBSR program. AR: I had already experienced the practices taught in the MBSR program at the Plum Village 'Day of Meditation' events. However, MBSR is a structured program that focuses purely on mindfulness practices. In addition, the class size is small allowing enough face time with the teacher (Erin). The discussion sessions in class after each practice or discussions about the home practices are an essential and valuable part of the program. Without going into too much theoretical detail, the MBSR course also helps you understand stress, how it affects your body, why you react in certain ways and how you can deal with it. Hence, all in all it was an enriching experience for me. MiMo: How has mindfulness contributed to your personal well-being? AR: Earlier in stressful situations, I would react and not understand why there were certain reactions or sensations. Now, I am much more aware. Mindfulness practices are simple yet powerful tools to support you in a multitude of situations. It has helped me calm my mind and as a result my body. Of course, that said, there is no switch that can be flipped and suddenly you have a "Eureka" moment of being a mindful person. It is a slow process which requires persistence and practice. MiMo: How has mindfulness supported you in your professional work? AR: I work as a Vendor / Project Manager in IT. My job involves working with multiple internal / external stakeholders, dealing with conflict, dealing with tough situations on projects. When faced with challenging situations, mindfulness helps me be aware of my feelings / emotions and sensations. Once I am aware, it enables me to take a Pause. Basically to apply one of the practices to draw attention back to the present moment and calm the mind. What works best for me is drawing attention to the breath and breathing deep. MiMo: How have you incorporated mindfulness into your daily life? AR: Since I got to know about mindfulness, I am more aware of how I spend my time. Often sparing 30-40 minutes every day for formal practices can be challenging. As a new father, I also need to strike a balance between spending time at work, with my family and on my well-being. Hence, I try to use my transition times more effectively - while I am on the MRT or in a cab or walking towards somewhere. I try to bring my attention back to my breath or focus on nature and just observe. Of course, when time permits I still try to keep up with the formal practices as well. MiMo: Any words of advice for people who are thinking about learning mindfulness? AR: We spend our lives worrying about the future or getting stuck in the past. Our minds have gotten attuned to overthinking, to making a mountain out of a mole hill, to be racing all the time. Mindfulness helps us break this vicious circle and brings us back to the present moment. As Thich Nhat Hanh says, the present moment is the only moment we have. Hence, mindfulness is all about being aware, being present, being here. Mindfulness practices help us achieve this and see the benefits of it. Mental health is often a touchy topic and there is stigma associated with it. I personally have gone through this. However, I would just say shun the stigma, shun the doubts and immerse yourself into the mindfulness experience. Because "Happiness is here and now, Peace is here and now"! Being here and now is Mindfulness.  --- About Ameesh Randeri Global Vendor Manager at Autodesk Asia Pte. Ltd. Ameesh has a Masters in Information Technology and started off his career as a techie. In 2010, he transitioned to the business side of things and currently works as Global Vendor Manager at Autodesk. Ameesh enjoys working in diverse, cross-cultural environments and interacting with people from the world over. Luckily, his job allows him to do just that. On the personal front, Ameesh is a new father and lives in Singapore with his wife, four and a half month old son and their pet dog, Cookie. He is an avid reader and loves reading both fiction and non-fiction books. Off late, he has been flirting with books on Buddhism, Spirituality and Mindfulness. Are you a mindfulness practitioner or do you know one who would like to share their mindfulness experience on the MiMo blog? Do drop us a message!
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About The AuthorMiMo founder Erin Lee is a Mindfulness Coach and MBSR Teacher at Mindful Moments, and advocate of mindfulness as the way of life. She conducts the classic 8-Week MBSR Program, as well as the 8-Week MBSR Workplace Program. 
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ContributeAre you a mindfulness practitioner and have meaningful experiences or thoughts about mindfulness that you'd like to share? You can contribute an article on the MiMo blog! Please contact Erin to find out more.
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