1. Noticing the joy you feel when you hear a song that reminds you of a happy time or loved one.
2. Observing a large tree and imagining it as a little sprout.
3. Picking up a child and breathing in their scent, feeling their body wrapped around yours and listening to the sweetness in their voice.
4. Looking for the moon each night and taking a moment to take in the sight of it.
5. Listening to the rain or sitting under the shelter and feeling the mist as it touches your skin.
6. Watch the coffee fill your mug. Feel the warmth of the mug. Breath in the scent of the drink. Notice the taste in your mouth. Observe the feeling of swallowing it.
7. When you are getting ready in the morning, take a moment to look at your own face in the mirror. Notice your features and particularly your eyes. We tend to critique ourselves when we look in the mirror, but to look yourself in the eye can allow us to be kind.
8. Notice the light coming through curtains or the blinds.
9. Sit in the grass and notice how the blades feel against your skin.
10. Observe, with your senses, anything that is within reach. It’s even better if you identify an object as your “grounding tool.” Keep it with you and pull it out when you are feeling anxious.
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There are plenty of ways to be mindful. It gives us an opportunity to feel calmness and the more we do this, the more we feel this way, and then being calm can become what we identify as our normal state. So, when you don’t feel calm, you can get curious about what you need at the moment to move forward with your day.
What are some of your ideas for being mindful?
Lauren =)