MINDFULNESS MONDAY
A simpler practice for this week, mindfulness of sounds.
Sound is a deeply grounding force that, when we tune into it, can help us to come back to the present moment easily. It does not matter what the sound is that fills the air around us, it could be soft, loud, sudden, or ongoing; what matters is how attentive we are to it.
A suggestion for the week:
· Set a timer for 5 minutes.
· Come to a comfortable seat and close your eyes when you are ready. Take a few breaths with awareness to settle into this practice.
· Once you feel grounded, shift your attention to your sense of sound. Notice whatever arises without judgement or assessment, you do not have to search for anything in particular, let the world offer its sounds to you.
· Sounds might come from near or far, that dies not matter. See if you are able to soften any tendency to label them as you become more open to their raw expression.
· Consider the noises that fill you as a symphony with its notes coming and going, rising and fading. Continue listening to the music of life that fills your ears until your timer rings.
· Turn the timer off and come back to closed eye awareness for 3 full breath cycles. When you feel ready to return to the world around you open your eyes.
I suggest trying this activity in various settings seeing what feelings may arise in you in response to the differences in sounds.
Have a great week!
