MINDFULNESS MONDAY
In building from last week’s post concerning the 8 attitudes, let’s look at cultivating them within a simple activity or task. We will use baking a cake as an example for practicing them during a task.
· Begin the task with a learner’s mind and experience the texture of the ingredients as you are gathering them.
· Whether you are beginning from scratch or from a box, do so without judgement of yourself, the cake of your baking ability.
· Acknowledge that you are self-reliant. That in baking this cake you are caring for yourself and others.
· Practice self-compassion in knowing that you are doing your best, and don’t get discouraged if the cake doesn’t turn out the way you want it to.
· If you find that your mind is trying to rush ahead to the next baking step, bring yourself to the present moment and task on hand.
· Watch the cake as it is baking- as the batter rises and forms and realize that you are letting it be. You are letting the natural course take place without interference.
I realize that this is a rather silly example, and now we probably all want a piece of fresh baked cake…. But I want you to try to notice the difference in how your mind and body feel when these attitudes are present as compared to when they are not.
A suggestion for the week: Try to expand this practice into other areas of your daily life. Do you feel or notice a difference in your relationships or in the way you feel during or after your activities and tasks?
Have a great week!
