Mindfulness through your senses
“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth.
Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child—our own two eyes. All is a miracle.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation
Staying in the present moment can be a challenge.
Your mind protests, because it’s impossible to measure a moment. There may be a longing to understand presence logically.
But your body wisdom knows and understands time in a way our mind can’t fully comprehend.
We’re culturally encouraged to sacrifice our depth of understanding for short-term productivity. We’re taught to model machine-like efficiency, to stuff down our feelings, and work hard.
But there’s a better way to coexist with time that works in harmony with our body.
Discovering an organic rhythm
Nature makes excellent company on the path of recalibrating your inner clock. Seasons remind you to slow down and tune in.
Deciduous trees slowly let go of their spring abundance in the fall so that each tree can save energy for the winter. Speed would be problematic under these circumstances. If a tree lost all its leaves in a single day, it indicates an imbalance or health issue in the tree—no need to hurry it up.
Use your senses to ground your body in the present
Sensory awareness is the foundation of mindfulness. Paying attention to what is happening around you through your senses can help you slow down. The best part is it’s incredibly simple.
All you have to do is bring your attention to what you are touching, hearing, tasting, seeing, smelling, and feeling right now without judging.
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Other easy techniques you can do that encourage mindfulness include:
Being kind (which has been proven to help complete your body’s stress cycle).
Moving your body or exercise
Sharing a long hug or kiss with someone you love
Tensing and releasing your muscles
Taking a deep breath
The common thread through each of these activities is that they must happen in real-time. Each one supports your quest to wholly occupy your body.
Pace yourself
Try taking some time to notice the earth’s rhythm through your senses. Your mind may judge it as too slow or unproductive. But there is so much power in engaging the senses; simple observation, listening, and opening up.
Give this simple form of care to yourself, to one another. Do it to restore your body and create a sense of spaciousness. It is a celebration of life. Sync up with the powerful energy of this precious earth.
Give yourself the gift of healing presence to help your heart soften and release.
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