Friday, December 10, 2010

Friday Challenge

oooh. This is weird. I'm time travelling. I'm writing this on the Sunday before you're reading it as I will be in Ontario on Friday...uh that is today. No wonder I don't write science fiction - even thinking about that makes my mind whirly. Just like when I contemplate the international date-line. It was a big disappointment to me to find out it wasn't a place to meet cool French guys.

Today's Challenge:

First either memorize these instructions or copy them out.

Find a quiet place to sit. Sit. Breath nice good breaths down into your belly. Feel your connection to the earth by noticing your bottom on the chair or cushion (or earth - perhaps you're sitting under a bodhi tree?). Feel your connection to the heavens as you lift the top of your head as if it suspended on a thread to a sky hook and let your spine find its own natural way to be in space. Rest your hands comfortable on the tops of your legs. Keep your eyes open but slightly unfocussed - you can see but you're not looking.
Notice your breath joining your body to all other bodies on the planet. Think about this for a moment or two. You are breathing air that Ghandi and Mick Jagger and the Queen of Sheba all breathed. Yes, you are.
Now contemplate the work you are doing right now - your novel in progress or your painting or the convention you are planning or your parenting challenge - whatever it might be. You know what it is. As you think about it let your body tell you how it feels about the progress you are making. Listen to your body and it will speak to you. Eloquently. Don't force this - just be gentle and listen. If you are struggling with some aspect of your work put your attention on that and ask your body what it feels you must do to stop the struggle. Really gentle now - agressiveness with your body will only result in sulkiness all the way round. Trust the process. Keep breathing - nice down into your belly. Appreciate how your body takes care of you with so little complaint or demand.
Now go back to feeling the earth, the heavens and your body suspended between the two - your breath joining both.
Done.

6 comments:

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

This sounds like the perfect exercise for awareness, focus, and relaxation...great way to start out my day! Thanks, Jan, and hope you're having a great trip. :)

Anonymous said...

Jan - I hope you're enjoying your trip! And thanks for this very useful way to focus and center oneself. On my way to print it out...

Unknown said...

Enjoy your trip! It's good to take time out and relax.
CD

Hart Johnson said...

is it wrong of me to imagine that Johnny Depp is blowing that same divine air down the back of my neck?

I definitely will use this... home stress makes things hard, so I need something like this to let the good stuff flow...

Anonymous said...

Greetings,

Thanks for sharing this link - but unfortunately it seems to be down? Does anybody here at labanan.blogspot.com have a mirror or another source?


Cheers,
Thomas

Stacy Post said...

Namaste, Jan! Mindfulness is a good reminder. All that heavy breathing made me nearly pass out! :) But it is a great way to begin the day, even if I'm a day late.