Stop and Smell the Roses

April 04, 2011, 15:02 pm ET, BY Christie- Contributor| Editor: Thomas H. Kee Jr. (Follow on LinkedIn)

Stop and Smell the Roses

Have you ever driven your car, and at some point “woken up” to realize that you don’t remember the last 5 minutes on the road, often wondering in amazement how you stayed in your lane?  Yup, sounds familiar doesn’t it?  That is just one example of the ways that we exist on autopilot in our day-to-day lives.  We often operate in this robotic state because we spend most of our waking hours in thought, and those thoughts are often rooted in the past or future tense.

Most of what causes us stress, anxiety, or depression, is often linked to things that have occurred in the past, or things that we are anticipating in the future; it is very important to understand and recognize that we have no ultimate control over either.  So, even though Earnings Season is in our midst, and you may be inclined to spend your time fretting over already-released reports, or anticipating those yet to be announced, do your best to let it all go.  Since all of the thought in the world is not going to change those figures, it is not the best use of your time or attention.   One of the best ways to enjoy the human experience, achieve balance, and improve mental clarity, is to practice present moment awareness, or mindfulness.  If you are looking for balance, you are not going to find it yesterday, and tomorrow is too far away.  We all have the ability to find it in the here and now.  The present really is a gift; in fact, it is all that we have.

I don’t know about you, but it always seems as though it is much easier to stay present when on vacation, because we want to soak up and enjoy our temporary surroundings and experiences.  The result is often that we feel rejuvenated and refreshed.  Believe it or not, you can achieve similar results in your everyday life.  Whether you live in downtown Manhattan, beach communities in California, or somewhere in between, there are exercises you can practice to help you stay in the present moment.

The exercise that I am going to share with you this week is adapted from one that I created while working at the Chopra Center in California.  It is a twist on a traditional walking meditation exercise.   Most traditional forms of walking meditation focus on the practice of being mindful while in the process of walking.  Specific attention is placed on the physical act of walking itself in relation to your physical body:  walking slowly, noticing how each foot hits the ground, how it feels (heel to foot, heavy/light).  This is one way to do it, and while it too can be useful, I have developed another method based on four of the five senses:  see, smell, hear, and touch.

This type of mindful meditation can be practiced anywhere…as you walk from your desk to the water cooler at work, walking from your parked car to a destination, or as you move through your home.  It can also be done on your morning jog, while sitting on a bench at the park, and especially while driving (although it is best to use mainly your sense of sight while behind the wheel).   I recommended starting with a focus on one sense at a time, and maybe even for just 5 – 10 minutes.  Eventually you may want to try using all of your senses at once.  With continued practice, you will notice that your attention will automatically shift to the present moment experience, rather than treading water in a deep pool of thought.

The Senses Meditation

See - Look around you at everything in your environment:  the buildings; sky; animals; plants; people; scenery; cars, etc.  Try to focus on and observe the different colors, shapes, sizes and dimensions.  You may begin to notice things that you had never noticed before.   Some of my former staff often participated in this exercise with me on the grounds of our property, and they were amazed at how many things they hadn’t noticed on their twice-daily walks to and from their cars. It just goes to show you that there is probably a whole new world out there that you are likely missing out on. 

Smell - Bring your attention to all of the different aromas in your surroundings…the smell of food cooking, plants, different people (for better and for worse), the air, clean laundry, your shampoo, or a spring breeze.  Do you like each scent?  What feelings arise?  Does the particular aroma stir up any memories?

Hear - Try to listen with attention and pick out each of the different layered sounds that make up the symphony in your environment…birds chirping, wind blowing, people walking, horns sounding, or whatever else is going on around you.  Is the sound loud or soft?  Dull or sharp?  Soothing, pleasant, or annoying?  This is especially powerful if you close your eyes (but only if you are still, and clearly not while you are driving).

Touch - Try to feel and touch some of the things that you may pass by:  the bricks on a building; snow on a railing; leaves, or the bark on a tree; petals of a flower; the outside of a train car as you enter it; or your cashmere sweater.  Pay attention to the texture (soft/rough/smooth/moist…) and temperature (cool, warm, hot, frozen…) of the things you touch.  This is the sense that we most lose touch with (no pun intended) as adults.  As young children, we curiously touch everything; it is how we learned to identify with the world around us.  I encourage you all to get reacquainted with your world and surroundings through this lost sense.

The next time you walk, run, or drive from point A to point B, take a mini-vacation instead of allowing your thoughts to consume you:  enlist the help of your senses to help ground you in the present moment.  Stop and actually smell the roses; your attention will be automatically shifted to the present moment, you will find freedom from your worries, and you will be able to find some peace of mind.  We tend to live our daily lives like horses with blinders on; staying rooted in the present is one of the best ways to expand our sensory field and take in all of what this world has to offer.  Try it…you have no idea what you’re missing!

Cheers!

Christie

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