Hello

So lets look at this idea of mindfulness.

Being present and the release of habitual reaction patterns focuses us on being our best self by utilizing our 6 senses.  Have any of you picked up on the fact I keep saying 6 senses?  We have hearing, seeing, touching, tasting, and smelling.  I am suggesting that we come into being with a sixth sense of intuition similar to what Malcolm Gladwell tried to illustrate in his book Blink. We get gut feelings, hunches and intuitions about people, places, and even goals.

Hunches can actually begin to move us out of stuck working and living routines or situations.  They may at first seem like daydreams or fantasies.   Follow the information and a clarity appears that we need to change paths.  When something doesn’t feel right that’s a type of intuition – it is a sense, a feeling similar to the information gathered from our other senses.  This information is less available to us for analysis because of it’s right-brained nature.  It’s like a knowing but it doesn’t have the left- brained concreteness, language, and proof.  So much of the time most people ignore these feelings, until later when the “proof” presents itself, like the unexpected cold-front that requires a sweater left at home.

Being present and focusing on releasing habitual reaction patterns are ways to increase clarity.  To access the information coming in from our senses.  This information directs us.  In some ways we recognize this – if we touch something hot that sense directs us to remove our hand from that hot space.  When we sense that something isn’t right in our lives or in a specific situation that sense also can direct our action.  These are the nagging feelings that we are not happy at work or in a relationship or that something isn’t right with our child.  These nagging feelings, and inner knowings, when ignored can develop into depression, a sense of disconnect, and lack of focus.  In fact the lack of attention to the intuitive sense can at times force the development of the very habitual reaction patterns that we need to dissolve.

Getting on the path of mindfulness, of paying attention to and also acting on all your sense related information including your intuitive information requires a relaxed focus.  An increase in one’s awareness is necessary.  Just listening to the intuitive voice, the quiet voice in the background of your mind and then taking action that is a beginning.  I talked about the difference in the intuitive voice and the voice of fear a few days ago in the January 9th blog, Create Balance Now.

Sometimes the sense needs to be fine tuned or trained.   A great way to do just that is to get a magazine or several.  Browse through them.  As you are browsing notice what draws your attention.  Cut out the pictures that are attractive, and try to not put a lot of thought into the exercise – be open, and allow the different feelings.  Cut these out and create a collage.  Leave the completed collage in  a space where you can look at it each day and jot down in a journal feelings and thoughts that develop in relation to it.  This can give you a picture of what is going on in your unconscious.  It’s a conversation with yourself about yourself.  If you choose to do this with a focus in mind, a problem that you may want to resolve,  then it can be a way of clarifying a problem, and a solution will present itself in the collage.  This can be a fun way to access more tangible information.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Beth