FEEL4 Mindfulness
/ˈmʌɪn(d)f(ʊ)lnəs/
noun
- 1.the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something."their mindfulness of the wider cinematic tradition"
- 2.a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.
The purpose of this post is to show you how the FEEL4 steps can always bring you into the present moment and make you feel better for it.
Every morning I take my dog out for a walk in the country and every morning I return home elated, ready for anything.
What happens to me on this walk?
This is what happens....
From the moment my feet leave my car and hit the trail, I constantly work through the FEEL4 steps to bring myself in the present moment.
Let me show you how....
I use my senses. My sight, my hearing, my smell, my touch. I look around me and I might tell myself to focus (Step 1 - learn more about the steps here ><) on a tree I am walking towards.
I then energise myself in the moment by listing out the energising (Step 2) factors of the tree and the moment. I might tell myself things like, "I am so fortunate to be able to see the tree, I am grateful for my sight. I am so happy to see my dog running up to the tree, alive and well..." and the list goes on, I add as many positives as I can. The amazing thing I have learned in doing this, is the positives come naturally. The whole exercise always makes me feel better even if I am dealing with tough problems.
Sometimes the 3 steps happens simultaneously, but for the sake of the order of the steps I will say that next I engage (Step 3) with not only walking towards my focus, the tree, but also I engage in touching the tree. Running my fingers over the bark. Thankful for my ability to touch. Soaking up the texture, living in the moment. Trying to be at one with the tree.
And finally as I walk away from the tree I contemplate if there are any lessons to learn (Step 4) to make the experience even better next time. I have learnt that I like to touch stinging nettles too, their sting now doesn't affect me. I love the response the leaves give to touch. I have learnt that nature communicates back in its own way and by being perceptive you can communicate at the level of non thinking and be at one with nature.
I hope you too can apply FEEL4 to your walks and routines in life. I urge you to try it and see how much better you feel afterwards.
Image by thatsphotography from Pixabay
