The practice: STOP
“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” Amit Ray
Daily Practice: STOP is a powerful and accessible practice to bring more presence into our busy lives. When you recognize yourself feeling reactive or stressed, STOP is a skillful tool to help move from contraction and back into connection.
S stands for STOP… stop and feel your feet on the floor, feeling a bit more grounded and stable.
T stands for TAKE A BREATH… a few cleansing breaths can reset your whole system… and perspective.
O stands for OBSERVE… observe what is happening in the body rather than getting lost in the stories of the mind. Notice and feel the various sensations, emotions, and attitudes that are present within.
P stands for PROCEED... proceed in a helpful and skillful way. This may require a few more deep breaths to ensure you proceed with presence and perspective.
“Mindfulness gives you time. Time gives you choices. Choices skillfully made, lead to freedom. You don’t have to be swept away by your feelings. You can respond with wisdom and kindness rather than habit and reactivity.” Bhante Henepola
Meditation Challenge: Walking meditation is a dynamic form of meditation practice. Rather than sitting still, you have an opportunity to feel your body moving through space. After a stressful day, I often find walking mediation as a helpful way to unwind; a helpful practice of moving from thinking and into feeling. You can choose to walk indoors with a shorter walking space (back and forth) or outside in the open. You may try various speeds to discover the pace and rhythm that feels best to your body, as you connect to the felt sense of walking. You may also find it helpful to occasionally practice STOP during walking meditation: Stop and feel your feet on the earth, feeling grounded; Take a few deep breathes with presence and awareness, Observe what is alive in the body, what is happening now; and then Proceed with walking with awareness… maybe even proceed with appreciative awareness.
“Nothing in the world can bother you as much as your own mind. In fact, others seem to be bothering you, but it is not others. It is your own mind.” HH Dalai Lama