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Welcome to 2017!
With all the festivities over the holiday break completed, I’m sure some of you are now back into work mode or maybe some of you are still cleaning up! In either case, everyone will benefit from my next practical exercise to help you be more connected with the present moment and more open, flexible and curious with all that is created BETWEEN THE EARS!
This exercise is all about paying more attention to the things we do on a daily basis or at least pretty regularly. Considering the regularity in which we perform some tasks, our brain generally switches to “auto-pilot” and wanders (or for some of you it may even race!) when doing them. This exercise, therefore, encourages you to explore mindfulness by really focusing on the task at hand, no matter how many times you’ve done it before, by considering all the sensory information that is available.
1) Mindfulness in Your Morning Routine
Think about and select an activity that is part of your daily morning routine, such as brushing your teeth, shaving or having a shower. Because we do this every morning, it has become an automatic event that the brain doesn’t consciously attend to anymore, instead switching to “auto pilot” and thus allowing thoughts to focus on other matters, such as the plan for the day ahead, worries and perhaps past events.
Therefore, when you do this activity tomorrow morning, totally focus on what you are doing – in particular, your body and how it is moving, any tastes or smells, touch sensations, what you see, and sounds you hear.
For example, when you’re in the shower, listen to the SOUNDS of the water as it sprays out of the nozzle, and as it hits your body, and as it gurgles down the drain. Feel the TEMPERATURE of the water, and the sensation of it in your hair, and on your shoulders, and how it runs down your back and legs. Take note of the SMELL of the soap and shampoo, and the feel of them on your skin. Observe the SIZE and SHAPE of the water droplets on the walls or shower screen, the water dripping down your body and the steam rising upwards. Notice the MOVEMENTS of your arms as you wash or scrub your body or wash your hair.
When any other thoughts arise - and they will - acknowledge them, let them be, and bring your attention back to the shower.
Again and again, your attention will wander. As soon as you realize this has happened, gently acknowledge it, note what distracted you and bring your attention back to the shower and all the wonder that comes with it.....
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