Cleansing

Since becoming a mother, the luxury of bathing comes few and far between.  Showering is a rushed experience done simply out of necessity.  While in the shower, my thoughts circle the many things I have to accomplish, the kids homework assignments, meal ideas, etc. and my anxiety grows. 

However, last night when I stepped into the shower, I cleared my mind of the worries and woes and I actually felt the water wash over me.  I enjoyed massaging my scalp while lathering shampoo through my hair, taking in the smell of my soap against my body and the heat of the steam rising around me and the goosebumps that raised from the contrast of the cold room to hot shower.  When my mind tried to wander off, I brought my attention back to the water. 

With my focus only on the shower and my thoughts only on cleansing myself, it made the experience serene.  Instead of jumping out like I normally do and haphazardly wiping myself dry and throwing my pajamas on, I stepped out slowly.  I let the cold air hit me and patted myself dry slowly, making sure to dry every inch of my body.  While brushing my hair I felt the teeth touch every part of my scalp.  I lathered my body in lotion and dressed slowly.  I exited the bathroom with a sense of peace and shared the experience with my husband.  

It just takes a mindful moment -- small pauses throughout the day to transform everyday moments into something meaningful.  There are no ordinary moments in life; every moment is sacred and deeply spiritual if we are open to changing how we relate to them.  

Cleansing

The Right Focus

While grocery shopping, I take my time and keep mindful.  I do not like to rush the experience rather I take the experience slowly and enjoy the moment. I enjoy the open layout of my neighborhood store and the way the bright lights reflect off the fresh foods they offer. I enjoy searching for the perfect fruits and vegetables and feeling their textures in my hand. When I pass the bakery, the aroma is so sweet it is intoxicating. I smile at the little child begging his/her mother for a sugary treat then raise my eyes to the mother's flustered face with compassion.  The weight of my cart as it fills reminds me of how I am providing nourishment for my family which brings me a feeling of satisfaction.

In Ellen Tadd's new book, The Wisdom of the Chakra's she uses The Grocery Store experience as an example.  An example of when a person usually leads away from The Third Eye Focus, or as she calls it "The Kingpin" and moves their focus to the Solar Plexus which is an emotional focus. 

"When perceiving from the solar plexus, most people experience fear or anxiety of some sort, whether it is about time, decision making, or people."

Today, while grocery shopping with my boys (which is normally something I do alone) I enjoyed watching my little ones in the car attachment beeping at the other patrons and my oldest proudly holding my list getting ready to cross off the next thing that I was going to place in the cart.  While waiting at the deli for them to call my number, I reflected on what Tadd said in her book.  I was curious what would happen if I changed my focus to my solar plexus.  

I started absorbing the mood of the gentleman behind me, shifting his wait from one foot to the other in frustration.  I noticed the sound of an unhappy toddler a few aisles down and sensed the aggravation of the mother.  The chatter of one patron beside me insulting someone or something to the person she was having a cell phone conversation with while ignoring the lady behind the counter who was asking her if she needed anything else.  The anxiety that I felt in those brief few moments swept over me completely.  I lost focus on being mindful and was overwhelmed with negative thoughts and emotions.  I could feel the frustration building more and more.  

"With your eyes closed, you would have to depend on feeling to find your way.....If you opened your eyes and walked down the same street, you could still use your hands to feel, but the addition of sight would increase your selectivity and discernment."

I took a deep breath and slowly brought my energy back to the Third Eye Focus.  I let go of the emotional tension around me, concentrated on my breath and once again found my positive energy.  I enjoyed the rest of my shopping experience with my boys.  Later, in the afternoon I reflected on other times that I too had those types of fears and anxieties while food shopping.  When did I start becoming mindful of the experience?  What triggered it to become a positive experience rather than a negative one?  The answer was right there before me, Practice.  

Mindfulness is a practice.  It is not something that can be achieved over night nor is it something that most can experience every moment of the day.  However if we take a moment during each activity to pay attention to the present (the task at hand); whether in our actions, our thoughts or our daily conversations we can learn to become more aware of the moment and not let it slip away. 

*Quotes are excerpts from  The Wisdom of the Chakras: tools for navigating the complexity of life by Ellen Tadd.

The Right Focus