Being mindful is being observant. By inviting us to inwardly slow down and notice what surrounds us, being mindful soothes anxiety and helps us become more adept at facing reality with real problem-solving.
Being mindful is not a separate activity that we must carve time for. A simple way to be mindful is to be present while doing whatever we do. For me it is easiest to be mindful when I pay attention to the five senses. Using the body as a filter for our experience is a beautiful, interactive and simple way to be mindful in everyday life.
Listening: a Simple Way to Be Mindful
A very wise friend told me, “Notice how you can’t think and listen at the same time.” That really was a game-changer for me. If my mind is consumed by worry and fretting, I try to remember to simply listen. We are usually surrounded by some kind of noise that we just blank out of our perception because we are busy focusing on our thoughts. Connecting to something outside of ourselves is a superb way to ease anxiety.
It fascinates me how when I really listen, I reconnect to this beautiful and natural environment which I treasure so much. Try listening to the sound of your steps on leaves and grass. The sound of the rain, the wind.
Here are some of my favourite things to listen: the sound of plants drinking just after I water them. Putting my ear over a glass of sparkling water, and delighting in how it sounds like a tiny bubbling stream. The wind in the tree tops, especially during gales. The sound of rain drops. The bees in the heather and the crab apple tree. The sound of water while doing the dishes, being in the bath, the shower, or being on the ocean shore. Listening to a pot of nutritious food simmering on the stove, or gently sautéing vegetables.
Although being alone in nature is a wonderful way to practice listening, I also find that it’s important to practice being mindful in conversations—conversations we have with ourselves, and conversations we have with others. Truly listening and being listened to is something we all benefit from and makes life much easier, makes conversations more rewarding and connecting, more respectful and supportive.
Looking: a Simple Way to be Mindful
Really looking at what surrounds us is a sure way to slow down and enhance appreciation for our lives. What do you love to surround yourself with? How often do you really take the time to look at it, soak it in, allow yourself to “learn it” in all its details and glory? I love looking at my plants, and this is such a fun activity, because of course they keep on changing. Watching them grow is a great joy, and by looking at them I also make sure they have what they need, I can spot what might be amiss.
Pausing to look at the art I create or choose is another favourite of mine. Many people who choose my art say that it provides them with a complete immersion, a window into a calm, soothing and joyful world. Watching natural patterns and the seasons are some of my favourite ways to enjoy looking. I find this joy in anything: vegetables, rocks and pebbles, lichens, plants, ripples in the sand, waves, trees… In my yarn art I delight in paying homage to those natural patterns, and the repetition and dance of the stitches is one of the most mindful and soothing activities for me.
Touching: a Simple Way to Be Mindful
We touch so many things through the day, it’s fun to make it as mindful as possible. Some of my favourites are enjoying the texture of a pottery dish, the tiny kisses of drizzle and rain drops, the warm woothing hug of a blanket, letting a rose in full bloom kiss my face, especially when it is wet with dew or rain. I love the touch of my clothes, moss (totally irresistible!), gently cuddling the velvetty head of an animal, the bark and branches of trees, pebbles and sand.
It’s also very nurturing to mindfully offer touch to ourselves: a simple 5-minute massage on the scalp, face, hands, feet or belly can be life-changing. Daily, I enjoy the simple ritual of a warm, moist face cloth to clean my face and ease tiredness.
Smelling: a Simple Way to be Mindful
I wasn’t suprised when it was scientifically proven that the smell of earth acts as an antidepressant. When I am in the garden I love to enjoy that smell as much as possible, and it always calms my mind and brings me joy. I feel just the same about moss, and always love to let it stroke my face and hands. Rubbing some moss and smelling my hands is an always-renewed delight, such an earthy and friendly smell.
Other smells that I enjoy are the breeze, especially when it comes from the ocean, the smell of rain, which smells so different through the seasons and depending on the weather, and one of my favourites is the smell of dusk, when plants smell so sweet and the smell in the air is so gentle. That smell also changes through the seasons and is at its sweetest in Mid-Summer.
Tasting: a Simple Way to be Mindful
We hear it all the time: eat without distraction so that you can fully enjoy the smell, texture and taste of your food, pay full attention to it. Sitting down to a calm table and enjoying the beautiful gift of food is a wonderful way to be mindful and to make the most of this precious nourishment.
My favourite tastes are the earthy, woody depth of miso soup, the nutty, smoky goodness of lentils, the profoundly restorative taste of vegetable soup and the juicy crunch of a vibrant salad. A friendly apple delights me when I bite into it and the slightly tart sweetness floods my mouth. A delicious cup of tea strengthens me and seems to revive all senses. And the way chocolate cascades in a swirl of heady sweetness… Eating mindfully helps us to regulate the emotions that might have driven us to overeat or not eat enough, and can help us to tremendously ease anxiety around food.
I have really enjoyed this travel through the five senses with you. Sitting here in one place, I feel that these words have transported me through the richest of adventures in a fun and open exploration of the simple ways to be mindful and ease anxiety. I hope it’s been a joy for you too! Let me know in the comments your favourite ways to be mindful. What are your favourite things to see, touch, hear, smell and taste?
