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Practicing Mindfulness while showering
I have been working on practicing mindfullness thoughout each day the last few days. I'm pleasantly surprised by how much it has been a help already.
My mind often wanders. At times I have countless thoughts rattling around my brain. Especially when I shower. I have been aware of this for some time and it's really bothered me. I love my morning shower yet often my mind will have 20 different things from the past, 20 things from the present (present as in recent, not the now,) and another 20 things from things that might be. Not all of them good! Alot of bad stuff there... Often it's in the form of self talk. Things like what I should have said or done. And even what I might say or do when this or that happens. Yikes! It's been really bothersome...
A few days ago I decided to just simply concentrate on what I'm doing and repeating it in my head while showering. I'm washing my hair, I'm rinsing now, I'm lathering, etc.... I would catch my mind wandering and it didn't bother me and I was able to get right back to the task at hand. That was a great feeling. It was probably the most enjoyable shower I had in a long time.
This morning I decided to expand on that. As I was showering and I would say for example "this is an exhilirating shower" I would add "I hope everyone experiences such an exhilirating shower." As I was going through my routine, at times my mind would wander to my sister who suffers from fibromyalgia. I would feel a mix of emotions then. Some bad for her and some happy for me that I was able to think of her and hope she had a great shower. I would then realize those thoughts and get right back to business. It was easy. Then the ease of it made me happy. More wandering... But it didn't bother me, I was able to get back on track. Had a great shower this morning!
After the shower, I went through the same process and when it came to putting on deodarant I thought "putting on deodorant, I hope everyone puts on deodorant" I just started cracking up. Just couldn't help myself. I'm amused very easily.
It's not the first or last time I get amused by such silliness...
I guess my point is that while I probably shouldn't pat myself on the back, I feel really good about how I'm starting to see things. Seeing early results with such a simple process even amuses me.
Just thought I'd share with you all. Gonna be a good day. Hope you all have a good day too!
My mind often wanders. At times I have countless thoughts rattling around my brain. Especially when I shower. I have been aware of this for some time and it's really bothered me. I love my morning shower yet often my mind will have 20 different things from the past, 20 things from the present (present as in recent, not the now,) and another 20 things from things that might be. Not all of them good! Alot of bad stuff there... Often it's in the form of self talk. Things like what I should have said or done. And even what I might say or do when this or that happens. Yikes! It's been really bothersome...
A few days ago I decided to just simply concentrate on what I'm doing and repeating it in my head while showering. I'm washing my hair, I'm rinsing now, I'm lathering, etc.... I would catch my mind wandering and it didn't bother me and I was able to get right back to the task at hand. That was a great feeling. It was probably the most enjoyable shower I had in a long time.
This morning I decided to expand on that. As I was showering and I would say for example "this is an exhilirating shower" I would add "I hope everyone experiences such an exhilirating shower." As I was going through my routine, at times my mind would wander to my sister who suffers from fibromyalgia. I would feel a mix of emotions then. Some bad for her and some happy for me that I was able to think of her and hope she had a great shower. I would then realize those thoughts and get right back to business. It was easy. Then the ease of it made me happy. More wandering... But it didn't bother me, I was able to get back on track. Had a great shower this morning!
After the shower, I went through the same process and when it came to putting on deodarant I thought "putting on deodorant, I hope everyone puts on deodorant" I just started cracking up. Just couldn't help myself. I'm amused very easily.
It's not the first or last time I get amused by such silliness...I guess my point is that while I probably shouldn't pat myself on the back, I feel really good about how I'm starting to see things. Seeing early results with such a simple process even amuses me.
Just thought I'd share with you all. Gonna be a good day. Hope you all have a good day too!
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Comments
Mindfulness is our greatest treasure, or at least one of them.
I'm too focused on good aim.
Try "I'm peeing now, I hope everyone is peeing now".. maybe the grasping at aim will subside.
mwahahaha
Hah! Grasping
Buddhism and toilet humor... woohoo!
we can turn this into positive practise
i am peeing.
what's in peeing?
oh, just water, fire, earth and air
it goes down as water
it has some sort of warm or cold that is fire
it has some hardness, that is the earth in it
it flows down because there is air
even peeing is not bad thing for being mindfulness and practising insight
"I'm washing my hair"
"I'm lathering the soap"
"I'm towelling myself down"
"I'm putting on deodorant"
"I'm peeing".
Without actually having the conscious thought of -
"I'm washing my hair"
"I'm lathering the soap"
"I'm towelling myself down"
"I'm putting on deodorant"
"I'm peeing".
You do all of the above, and simply observe.
Without commentary.
Every step, big or baby, is a cause for rejoicing. Good for you!
Mtns
But if I think "this shower is not only cleansing my body, but my mind.. I will feel better after this shower" then it really does accomplish that feeling.
We are very good at convincing ourselves of things, we humans!
And I must admit I laughed at the "I am peeing, I hope everyone is peeing!"