Thursday 25 June 2009

Morning!


I'm in the fortunate position that I sleep underneath a skylight without curtains. When I wake in the morning the first thing I see is the sky, how blue it is, how cloudy or grey it is, no other thoughts just the sky. I can search, go deeper. Be amazed at the depth of the blue or on other days the grey tumbling clouds fighting with each other, the birds soaring, crows squabbling with each other, the sound of pigeons scratching around on the roof tiles, the rhythmic drumming of rain drops on the window. Only then do other thoughts creep in. The contract to be signed today, a brother who is ill, family relationships, more work stuff and it occurs to me that being mindful of the morning sky and specifically that going deeper with the search kept out the other thoughts, the more difficult thoughts, and at first the feeling was great if I'm mindful the other stuff doesn't get in!

But (a) that's not true; and (b) it's missing the point.. The point about mindfulness is that by being aware, in this present moment, the one with the blue sky, birds, raindrops, I can also be aware of all the other stuff going on in my life. Importantly and especially when thinking of Mindfulness in Nature, the awareness of all the 'outside' stuff, birds, grass, laughter of children whatever, helps me to hold all the 'inside' stuff, worries, thoughts and feelings, more gently. By holding them more gently (what breathworks trainers refer to as equanimity) I'm able to respond to them more effectively. Rather than recoiling thinking not again! I can engage more fully. My mindfulness in nature practice helps me with my mindfulness of everyday life practice.

Seeking out the wonderful each day, no matter how small (hence the snail!), recognising the life around me and my connectedness to it, helps me live my own life more effectively.

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