If the word mindfulness sends you into an eye roll or causes you to clench up, you’re not alone.
I mean, what does mindfulness even mean?
To be mindful simply means to notice:
~ notice your thoughts
~ notice your body sensations
~ notice emotions & feelings
Why would you want to do this?
Noticing offers opportunity:
~ opportunity to understand our reactions
~ opportunity to understand our relationship to self and others
~ opportunity to respond, rather than react
~ opportunity to shift uncomfortable sensations to a state of peace and calm
We can learn to do this by engaging our senses when we are doing something pleasurable like:
Eating/Cooking
~ notice how the food tastes, smells, looks, sounds, feels
Bathing/Showering
~ notice how the water moves over your skin, the temperature, the smell of your
shampoo/body wash, the look of the water droplets, the sound of the water
falling/moving, taste the steam
Lying in Bed to Sleep
~ notice the feel of the sheets, the smell of the fabric, the sound of your breath
the taste of your toothpaste, the darkness behind your eyelids
Practicing with pleasurable moments will prepare you for more intense moments and offer guidance back to calm.