by Good morning,
Welcome to a beautiful spring day! How are you doing on your mindfulness practice this week? Remember, it is about paying attention to the present moment. What we choose to pay attention to may vary depending upon the situation. We may opt to direct our focus inward to internal states, sensations, or breathing. We may focus on the environment or we may focus on the task at hand. The key is to direct attention, on purpose. It is a normal human tendency for the mind to wander. Once we notice this, we just gently guide it back to the present moment.
You can play some games with yourself to test how much you are paying attention to the environment. I mentioned in group last Wednesday about counting the stairs leading to the office. Did anyone do that? What is the picture at the top of the stairs? Or is there a picture at the top of the stairs? Where is the fire extinguisher? How many chairs are in the waiting area? These are all things that we saw, and most of us have seen many times, but did we really pay attention? Would we notice if there was a change in the environment? If you happen to cross railroad tracks and had to wait for a train, which way was the train moving?
Pitfalls include trying to rush through a task to get to something else or longing to be somewhere other than here. If you notice this, refocus on the task at hand and be fully present with what you are doing.
Think of other ways to expand your mindfulness practice this week. I am curious to hear what you come up with!