Sunday Reset - Clear the Lens - July 5
Clear the Lens - A mind-focusing practice for the senses
The July 4th holiday weekend is a built-in invitation to slow down and notice, and our senses are the perfect doorway in.
Here's something fascinating: neuroscientists have found that when we deliberately bring attention to present-moment sensory experience, we quiet the brain's "default mode network" - the part responsible for mind-wandering, rumination, and the mental noise of replaying the past or rehearsing the future. In other words, tuning into what we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel isn't just pleasant. It's one of the fastest ways to find ease in the nervous system and return to now.
(Brewer et al., 2011, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
So this weekend, try this:
Pause. Take one full breath in and out. Then notice…
See: What's around you right now? Colors, light, movement? Is it hard to pull your eyes away from a screen? Notice that too, without judgment.
Feel: Any sensations on your skin? The heat of the sun, a cool breeze, the texture of what you're sitting on?
Listen: What do you hear close by, and in the distance? The crackle and boom of fireworks? How does that land in the body?
Smell: Is a neighbor grilling? Is there salt in the air? Notice any aversions or pulls toward certain smells? Those are worth noting, too.
Taste: What will you savor this weekend? A red, white, and blue popsicle (what flavor is that, anyway?)? Watermelon? Grilled veggies? Pause before the first bite and actually taste it.
For me, the senses are a true gift. I love savoring summer through them - the bright blue sky, cool water on my skin, the sound of kids playing, the smell of something on the grill. Even the booming fireworks, which I don't love, remind me that I am safe and present. (My dog, unfortunately, has not yet discovered mindfulness.)
Wishing you a weekend full of noticing, and many pleasurable moments along the way.
Hit reply and let me know what you notice when you take a pause! ;)
Warmly,
Julia
Resources Below - Take a Look :)