Given our disbelief and powerlessness in so many international crises, in addition to the worry of economic impact and future national safety, mindfulness might help us calm our tension and feelings of inadequacy in a world going mad?
Thich Nhat Hahn, a Buddhist monk and influential philosopher and writer who left this mortal realm a year or two ago, eloquently described our need for mindfulness, the exquisite awareness of where we are in the present moment. This is what we can notice and be impactful about.
How is our breath? Are we breathing at the very top of our lungs as we remain tense, or is it possible to deepen the breath so that we begin to fill our lungs all the way down to our bellies, filling that area, and then emptying our lungs from the top of our lungs, and finally squeezing our bellies in to clear the lungs? Do we notice how this deeper breathing allows our shoulders to relax downward and even lets our facial muscles relax? Can we even let a soft smile raise the corners of our mouth slightly? Can we focus on how it feels to love the moment and the world around us as we breathe?
As we walk, do we notice that our feet connect to the ground from the heel to the sole and then to the toes? As Thich Nhat Hahn suggested, “Walk as if your feet are kissing the earth.” Our feet connect to the powerful energy of the earth and the bottoms of our feet have many acupressure points that stimulate our entire body systems. Energy medicine practices also acknowledge the energy from the sky or heavens and include a focus on long stretching with the head erect and reaching arms up to greet the energy of the heavens daily.
Is our environment unchanging or is it organically growing and changing daily? Notice the light. Despite the darkness of death and war in parts of the world, the daily light continues to delight us with vibrant sunshine and soft glowing moonlight.
Are the sounds of the seasons the same? The silence of a heavy snowfall, with no cars out, and only the sound of gusts of wind were probably replaced by multiple birdcalls and the singing of frogs after a soft spring rain. What do you hear now? Is the fall weather noisy with the crows cawing over the dried grasses and red and orange leaves? How is the temperature different from the day before? What do you see? Are there clouds or blue sky? Is the grass green or is it becoming parched or muddy? Are the squirrels and chipmunks busily, and almost excitedly seeking food for cold days ahead?
We need to nourish and hydrate ourselves particularly in stressful times. Being mindful begs the following questions: How does it feel to take that first long drink of cool water in the morning? Does it clear your throat, wake you up, rinse your mouth, soften dry lips? Does your warm coffee or hot tea help you warm up and plan your day? How do your first few bites of food impact you? Crunchy, bland, filling, tasty? Is it a privilege to be able to go to the kitchen and find something clean and healthy to eat?
What do you choose to touch? Is your clothing soft and flowing? Constrictive, rough, textured, warm, colorful? Do you hug your family members? What does this feel like? Warm, stilted, rushed? Do you caress your pets? How do the reward you with loving responses?
We can choose to notice our lives and their blessings, to live peacefully and with appreciation. We can share and demonstrate that peaceful energy with the world by releasing the angst of dwelling on the horror of those things we do not choose and often cannot control. Energy healers such as Chunying Li of Spring Forest Qigong encourage us to feel love in our hearts as we move and breathe mindfully as a means of impacting peace and healing in the world at large, not just in our own bodies. May you find peace this day and bring peaceful energy to the world!
Love and blessings,
Suanne