Mindfulness is not easy to do, and nor is meditation. It’s because it takes much effort to clear our minds: in order to firstly relax: and then to solely focus on breathing; and then to concentrate.

But I’ve been practicing both these helpful forms of therapeutic techniques for over a decade, and rather than always relying on a busy mind to help me; I have cashed-in on my other senses, because they all lead to conscious awareness, – which is actually the purpose of these skills.

Additionally, they feel easier to access, and can help train the mind to live in the moment. Once we get used to tapping into our other senses, they become a precursor to mindfulness and meditation. I liken them to using armbands, whilst learning to swim unaided.

Most of us take our sense of smell for granted, yet we all enjoy pleasant scents of things like: baking or freshly cut grass; or indeed, the pheromones of people or animals we love, since all mammals and humans produce these hidden forms of communication; and they make us feel comforted.

So, therefore you could simply sit where there is a scent that you enjoy: in the garden, or on the sofa, and to start off with, spend only one minute taking in the aroma. Take it in fully, and breathe it in, to the extent, that you can almost taste it. If it were the scent of grass you enjoy, then by concentrating on its scent, -your breathing will automatically steady itself. It’s helpful to look at the grass in order to sustain your concentration. The purpose of the exercise is to give one object your undivided attention for one minute, and by doing so daily, you can increase the time by just a minute at a time. You are being effortlessly mindful and you’ll be more consciously alert: you are in your own real – time, as opposed to operating on auto-pilot.

You can utilise your sense of smell with your loved one’s pillow or shirt, and equally you can do the same by sniffing your pet, – stroke them whilst they’re sitting on your lap, but predominately focus on their warm comforting, biscuit and woody-like smell.

Equally, you can focus on your sense of touch, and you could set a device, or stop-watch so that you maintain this for initially just one minute. If you practice this daily, you can soon build up the time to two or three minutes. Liken yourself to a child with a comfort blanket; have you noticed that a child will almost innately be content just by stroking a silky corner about their face. It won’t last long, they may either fall asleep, or start bouncing again; but for a few minutes they’ve been consciously aware of the comfort they feel.

I enjoy the sense of touch, I’ll frequently go in the garden, and enjoy stroking leaves on my cherry tree. They feel supple and slightly dry at this time of the year. But if it’s just been raining, then they feel lush and succulent. I know my leaves well, and enjoy stroking the giant comforting hands of them when I walk in the forest too.

The sense of taste is deliciously rewarding. Just a short while ago, I washed a bowl of strawberries, and although I could stare at their beauty; I like to squish them on my palette and by doing so they release a delightful naturally sweet, warm crushed, ice-like sensation in my mouth. The different flavour tones of the fruit were like flowers opening – up in my mouth… I cleared my mind of everything else, and for a couple of minutes simply focused on nothing else but their yummy refreshing fruitiness.

I hope you find these techniques a pleasant less taxing route to mindfulness and meditation; because the more times that we switch to a consciously alert mind, the more focused we can be in other aspects of our lives. Spending just a minute or so daily, to cash-in on our other senses, will prepare you for other wellness pursuits.

 

SUNNY wishes,

Emma x