Tag Archives: mindfulness

Focus… on just one thing

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cityhippyfarmgirl.com

Outside it’s blowing a gale. The sun shines bright through the windows and if I wasn’t paying close attention I’d think it was a perfectly lovely regular sunny day out there. Watching the eucalypts bend in the wind, tell me instead it’s a day with mixed feelings.

I get that.

Jumbled thoughts and distracted actions, I’m certainly no stranger here. It seems this week is one of those times. Time to pare it back a little, concentrate on one thing at a time instead of adding more and more to the circus show.

So how am I doing that? I’m dropping in little things that make the heart sing into the everyday, where I know the exhaled breath will be taken back and might be, (hopefully) just a little longer…instead of being unknowingly held.

I’m reading ‘Optimism’ by Bob Brown. What an incredible man, he can come round for dinner any time.

Singing along to Paul Dempsey, because he is awesome, (and equally encouraged to drop round for dinner any time.)

Swapping eggs and lemons for Lemon and Olive Oil Cake with my neighbours. Bonus chats over the back fence, always included.

Stopping in the winter sun, looking out to the water, grounding myself, and taking a minute just to focus on the one thing.

Because that stuff right there?

Yeah, it’s important.

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How are you travelling? If this post reminds just one person to take a minute to stop, breathe and practise a little mindfulness for a minute or too, I’m happy with that.

Also try here for an interesting read on the Japanese method of self reflection: Naikan

 

 

 

 

 

reconnecting

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cityhippyfarmgirl

cityhippyfarmgirl

No witty words, no speaking of wisdom.

No pieces of insight, no moments of truth.

When scrambled thoughts, half formed ideas and disconnected sentences are the only thing on offer, it’s probably time to consciously reconnect.

Fingers to stroke potted plants, bottoms to sit on this precious earth, toes to sink into crunching sand, while shoes lay discarded on the side.

Reconnecting.

Mindfulness

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Mindfulness. It seemed to be a word that just kept coming up last year for me. I thought about it, thought thats an interesting concept. Wonder if I could be more mindful and then sort of let it go, with the word just sitting there, slightly sticking out so as not to forget it.

A word that I know I should look into more as I feel my life would be more fulfilled if I did.

Mindfulness- being completely aware and present in that moment. The body and mind in harmony. Paying attention to the present moment and allowing the person to disengage from mental clutter- creating a clear mind.

My children are more fulfilled when I am mindful. Taking that moment to see what Monkey Boy is showing me, rather than giving a “ah huh. looks good” answer, and then continuing trying to complete whatever I was doing. He’s happy because I have taken the time to listen to him and see what he is involved in, so less inclined to keep interrupting me with what ever I am doing.

I think if I was more mindful in everything I am doing, things just might flow a bit easier.  I get caught up in the small things just like lots of other people, but I think it might be right time to take a step back and just see what happens for awhile. Rather than trying to be on top everything, all the time. Time to de-clutter the mind.

I’m going to try to look at it on a really basic level, and then if I can master that, go further with it in terms of its Buddhism background. Certainly not two things that can be compared, but a good place to start.

Mindfulness in cooking I have always been aware of, just not always put it in to practise. It makes a huge difference. The bread that has been mindfully mixed, kneaded, proven, and then baked. Of course it will taste delicious. So much better than the loaf that was interrupted with, kids fighting, phone call taken, and negative thoughts of other things. If mindfulness has been put in to cooking you can taste it.

The simplest of dishes can taste amazing if made with care, awareness and perhaps a dash of love. Compare that with a dish that has been made in haste, while side tracked with other things, slapped down on the table and then eaten without any thought. It doesn’t compare.

So can I do it? Can I bring myself to be more mindful in everyday life? Mindfulness brought to my cooking, my daily chores, my conversation and most importantly to my husband and children?

I’m sure going to try.