Niccolo Tiangco, RPsy, MSc

Tag: counselling

  • On Mindfulness Meditation

    Mindfulness is being aware of your present experience without judging it. For example, if you’re sitting down and suddenly think, “Damn! I have another deadline tomorrow”—instead of latching on to the thought and stress of having a deadline, you will just acknowledge the thought and receive it with kind awareness. Another example would be walking down the street on your way to school or the office: You see some flowers and stop to smell them, taking in their colors, size, arrangement, odor, and everything else that is part of your present sensory experience—your full attention dedicated to the experience of smelling the flowers is a form of mindfulness. Sounds easy right? Well actually it’s not. A lot of the time we worry about the future or ruminate over the past. That’s why there are so many classes and workshops on yoga and mindfulness meditation nowadays: It takes practice and good mentorship to develop the skill.

    Mindfulness meditation is the practice of sitting down and focusing on your experience, with the ultimate purpose of honing your ability to be mindful at any sudden moment. One of the most well-known mindfulness meditation practices is to focus on the sensation of breath as you breathe. Other mindfulness meditation practices include eating and chewing deliberately and with full awareness; tensing and relaxing your body while being aware of the corresponding sensations; visually imagery; and so on. Take note: Mindfulness meditation isn’t for everyone. Some people just don’t believe in it, or perhaps they have tried meditating a few times and it didn’t work for them. Not to mention that it’s boring!

    I therefore wish to inform all potential mindfulness practitioners not to feel bad or discouraged if you find it difficult to  be mindful when you are just starting out. You may also respect your judgment if you feel that now is not the time for you to start practicing mindfulness and meditation–maybe you can try again at another stage in your life. I must say, though, that yoga and mindfulness changed my life, and it is my mission to make it more accessible to everyone. There is an inner yogi in all of us!

    REFERENCE:

    Teasdale, J., Williams, M., & Segal, Z. (2014). The mindful way workbook: An 8-week program to free yourself from depression and emotional distress. Guilford Press.

  • Psychology in the Philippines

    This is a great time for psychology in the Philippines.

    Sometimes you will still hear people ask the question, “So psychologist ka, nababasa mo ba iniisip ko?”

    Nonetheless, I notice my countrymen also becoming more open and curious to what psychology is really about: “Makakatulong po ba kayo sa stress ko?”, “Iniisip ko po minsan kung nade-depress po ako… kailangan ko na po bang magpatingin?”

    Therefore, psychology is young in the Philippines, but it is growing and, more importantly, people of all social classes are becoming more open to what it could be.

    This is just a brief post about my thoughts on psychology in the Philippines as of January 2020.