WEEK 11
Meditation Practice
We’re increasing this week’s daily meditation to 15 minutes and Sunday’s practice will stay at 20 minutes like last week. If you find your mind getting bored or agitated half way through then simply embrace this as part of the lesson of today’s practice — even the practices that feel as though you've taken a thousand steps back and your mind is ping-ponging from one thought to the next like an over-caffeinated flea, have something to teach you.
Monday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Tuesday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Wednesday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Thursday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Friday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Saturday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Sunday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness + 5 minutes Loving-Kindness
Monday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Tuesday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Wednesday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Thursday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Friday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Saturday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness
Sunday — 5 minutes Breath Awareness + 10 minutes Body Awareness + 5 minutes Loving-Kindness
Mindful Living Practice — Play
One of things I noticed as I started living more consciously was how little time we make for play when we grow up. When was the last time you did a cartwheel? Or painted a picture? Or jumped in a puddle?
To kids, play and creativity come naturally but at some point during adolescence we cleave off any part of ourselves that isn’t deemed ‘productive’. And, in a society that encourages us to work more and produce more and consume more and never stop and never rest, it’s difficult to justify making time to play.
But play and creativity are essential parts of our humanness. And if we shut down our natural impulses to create and explore, we are often left feeling hollow, empty and disconnected from our souls.
Play and creativity reawaken parts of ourselves that we have long-forgotten and cast aside. As adults, we get pretty set in who we are and what we like, so play encourages us to step outside our comfort zone so we can embrace the fullness of life.
This week see if you can bring more play and creativity back into your life — anything that brings more lightness and freedom into your day. This could mean getting the Jenga out or drawing or painting or colouring. It could mean having a go at chess, writing a story or trying out yoga, hiking, or white water rafting.
Imagine yourself as a kid and remind yourself that sometimes the most important thing in life is to have fun.
To kids, play and creativity come naturally but at some point during adolescence we cleave off any part of ourselves that isn’t deemed ‘productive’. And, in a society that encourages us to work more and produce more and consume more and never stop and never rest, it’s difficult to justify making time to play.
But play and creativity are essential parts of our humanness. And if we shut down our natural impulses to create and explore, we are often left feeling hollow, empty and disconnected from our souls.
Play and creativity reawaken parts of ourselves that we have long-forgotten and cast aside. As adults, we get pretty set in who we are and what we like, so play encourages us to step outside our comfort zone so we can embrace the fullness of life.
This week see if you can bring more play and creativity back into your life — anything that brings more lightness and freedom into your day. This could mean getting the Jenga out or drawing or painting or colouring. It could mean having a go at chess, writing a story or trying out yoga, hiking, or white water rafting.
Imagine yourself as a kid and remind yourself that sometimes the most important thing in life is to have fun.
If you can, see if you can keep up the mindful living practices from the last few weeks too. If you need a reminder, I’ve popped them below.
Week 1 -- Don’t Scratch the Itch
Week 2 — Non-Harm
Week 3 — Non-Stealing
Week 4 — Speak Only Kindness
Week 5 — Take a Break From Intoxicants
Week 6 — Conscious Relationships
Week 7 — R.A.I.N
Week 8 — Send Happiness
Week 9 — Let Someone Else Be Right
Week 10 — Wash Up
Week 1 -- Don’t Scratch the Itch
Week 2 — Non-Harm
Week 3 — Non-Stealing
Week 4 — Speak Only Kindness
Week 5 — Take a Break From Intoxicants
Week 6 — Conscious Relationships
Week 7 — R.A.I.N
Week 8 — Send Happiness
Week 9 — Let Someone Else Be Right
Week 10 — Wash Up