In an attempt to stop making school about schooling and really about living, I began guiding students (and myself) through a process called Living Work. It is grounded in the work of Don Miguel Ruiz and Jon Kabat Zinn and entails bringing more mindfulness into our lives by:
-gaining awareness of the patterns in our lives we want to break
-setting intentions for how we can choose to live differently
-taking action and breaking patterns
-reflecting on how are lives are different (and hopefully filled with more happiness and meaning).
The following is a process you can use as a guide to take on some of your own Living Work. It is not linear or static. You may want to use a journal to record and reflect on your experiences.
-Awareness: What patterns do you recognize in your life?
-Setting Intentions: What areas of your life do you want to change?
-Taking Action: How are you going to begin to live differently? What is your plan?
-Reflection: How is the Living Work going? What are your experiences?
I have led middle school students through this process which resulted in wonderful experiences and much to be learned by all. Try it out and share your experience with me on this form. I would love to hear students' experiences as well.
Good luck and happy pattern breaking!
