Week 46 - Making the Practice Your Own

Week 46 Activity

MAKING THE PRACTICE YOUR OWN

There are lots of different ways to practice mindfulness:

formal practices that include sitting or movement

meditations, and informal practices in which we pay

attention to our everyday experience in a particular way.

Most people prefer certain practices over others, and we

might also be constrained by family or work commitments.

Sometimes we find certain practices helpful when we are in a particular frame of mind. For example, walking or another movement practice can help to settle a restless mind when sitting may be too challenging. When we are lying awake at night, unable to sleep, a simple Body Scan (see page 17) might be helpful.

(It will worth reviewing the list of practices which will be appended to the last exercise when I post it and marking those that have resonated particularly with you. You may also want to revisit the list of activities and perhaps repeat those that were particularly helpful).

It can also be worthwhile to pay attention to the practices we resist. Be curious about that resistance and perhaps experiment with the practices from time to time, noticing how your attitude may change. Once you have a sense of the practices and/or activities you find particularly helpful, make a note of them here with any observations from your experience that you think will be useful. Use this list to structure your day-to-day practice—both formally and informally—always keeping a light, flexible touch.