The Importance of Living with Awareness

For several years, I have conducted brief discussions and meditations with college students through the Pueblo Hispanic Educational Foundation. I vividly recall the stressors associated with being in school, particularly law school, where my anxiety became so intense that I often skipped classes and relied primarily on studying from books during my last two years. I enjoyed the clinics I participated in, such as Street Law and Criminal Justice, but found it difficult to sit through the classes in the building. Just driving to school would casue chest pains and I would drive over to the clininc only to be told that there was nothing wrong.

Understanding now the impact of stress and anxiety, and how to manage them through reflective and somatic practices, would have helped me stay more focused and made the experience more enjoyable. When leading a group, observing people trust a stranger enough to close their eyes and simply follow your voice clearly indicates that they are in distress and seeking any resource to support them through the process.