1. Discuss your experiences with meditation, yoga, and/or prayer. What benefits do you feel you achieve through these practices?

2. As Americans, we tend to avoid suffering. However, in a few religious traditions, suffering is to be embraced as it makes us stronger and brings us closer to God. Within your comfort zone, discuss a time when you have suffered (or known someone who has suffered) and how you (or he/she) adjusted and coped. Are you (or he/she) stronger having suffered? Explain.

3. The textbook explains how mindfulness can allow us to respond to situations, as opposed to react to situations. When facing negative situations, do you tend to react or respond? Discuss the difference between reacting and responding.

4. Are your goals and behaviors aligned with your values? Discuss why such alignment is important. How can you correct any misalignments?