Barbara Veale Smith
Level II Teacher
You can be content right now. Before one single thing about your life changes. If you're willing to pay attention to the one thing that doesn't change: attention - or Beingness - itself. Your attention, or what you could think of as your very Being/Life energy notices everything, but it doesn't have any content itself. It simply notices and accepts. Through our coaching conversations, you'll learn to recognize and rest into your attention/being - which is the aspect of yourself that is contentless and aware - as a way to make change within yourself, in your world and in the world at large. This practice allows you to see more clearly what's stirring within you, and allows you to become clearer about from "where," "who," or "what" a decision or action of yours is coming. This is potent work.
It is possible to live each day with greater ease. It is possible to live your potential. How we pay attention - and to what we pay attention - determines the frequency of our brain's activity, and thus whether we're experiencing judgement or acceptance, feeling hurried or spacious, anxious or calm, preoccupied or un-self conscious. Feelings of disconnection and division can be transformed, assisting you in living from your innate wholeness.
In coaching, I utilize principles from iRest, Psychosynthesis (a form of spiritual nondual psychology), Open Focus™Coaching (based on neurofeedback principles), and the wisdom gained from more than 30 years worth of contemplative and silent retreat experiences. Contact me to learn more about advancing your aims and to schedule a session. Attention is invisible yet clearly felt in its presence and in its absence, and I welcome the opportunity to share time and attention with you.
Life Basics: Barbara is a two time graduate of Boston College, earning a BA in History and Economics in 1985 and an M. Ed. (Masters of Education) in Religious Education in 1994. She served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps from 1985 - 1987, working in the nonprofit sector and in religious education following the JVC. In 1988 she married Mark Smith and they have two children, Conor & Tara, who are now young adults themselves. Barbara began her teaching career in 1994, offering contemplative practices, and a love of the world's spiritual traditions to high school students. While raising her children, she was involved in a variety of professional endeavors utilizing her expertise in writing, photography, communications, marketing, and spirituality. Barbara has had a contemplative/mindfulness practice for more than 30 years, and has been dedicated to silent retreat practice for nearly 20 years. Barbara is a life-long learner and educator, with a passion for peace. She is committed to transforming consciousness toward the unfolding of a just, sustainable, peaceful planet.