Mindfulness: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Season 1 Episode 34

Matthew 6:34 invites us to not worry. But how does one release our worries? I have found mindful presence is key! Allow your very own senses to invite you into mindful presence with this simple yet powerful practice. Once you experience this meditation, you'll be able to find mindfulness anywhere in your day. You can also read about this mindfulness practice at Whitney's blog, click to visit.

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Hi, I'm Whitney R. Simpson, and you're listening to Exploring Peace Meditations. Take a few moments to settle in and place your phone on Do Not Disturb. No matter where you may find yourself, take a moment to purposefully pause with a dose of peace and calm for your breath, body, and spirit as we seek to explore the peace God offers us each and every day. Today's practice is a mindfulness meditation. It's an opportunity to pay attention to what's happening around you right now. Once you learn this practice, you can explore it anywhere, anytime. I began this mindfulness meditation after a season of anxiety. Anxiety might be something that you too are experiencing in this season of life. Scripture reminds us that we're to be anxious about nothing, that tomorrow has enough worries in it, and today is where we're called to be present. I wonder then how the gift of our very own senses might help us lean into this scriptural invitation. Today's practice invites you to do just this. Use your senses to be present. So as you settle into the space where you are now, just get comfortable. Often in our guided prayer and meditation times, I'll invite you to close your eyes. But today, I'll invite you to start with your eyes open. Look around you. Notice five things that you can see. Try to notice less obvious things. Or five things in great detail. So for instance, if you're sitting in your living room, you might notice your couch. But rather than just saying, I see the couch, be as detailed and as specific as possible. I see the green couch cushion with the tea stain on the bottom side. Take a few moments and in the silence, notice five things in detail that you can see around you right now. Be grateful for what you've noticed around you. We'll shift next to use the sense of feel. So with your own touch, I invite you to notice four things you can feel right now in your space. You might feel the chair beneath your legs, the sleeves of your shirt, your feet inside your shoes. You might feel the hair on your shoulders or the wind on your face if you're outside. Take a moment and in the quiet, notice four things you can feel. Sensation, feeling within your body. As we continue with our mindfulness practice, we'll next use our ears. I invite you to notice three things you can hear. You've quieted yourself for this time. Maybe you have on earbuds, maybe there aren't a lot of external sounds, but you do hear the sound of my voice, maybe the sound of your breath. Can you hear the background music in detail? Take a moment in the quiet and notice three things you can hear. Pause and give thanks for the gift of your ears and for the ability to hear today. Next, I invite you to use your sense of smell. Notice two things you can smell. It's interesting that as we get used to our own scent, it's harder to smell in our very own home, or with our clothes, or our shampoo, or our deodorant, or essential oils that we use. Take a moment and be really present, noticing your own smell or a smell around you. It might be pleasant, it might be unpleasant. Be as specific as you can and identify two things you can smell right now. Take a moment and notice one thing you can taste. Yes, right now, with nothing in your mouth. Is there a taste as you practice this meditation? Maybe your toothpaste or your last meal. What do you taste in your mouth? If you struggle, use your imagination. Ponder a favorite taste. Recall it, savor it, notice it. But notice one thing you can taste right now. We've just noticed five things you can see, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. Creator God, we give thanks for our senses today. Allow them to help us be mindful and present exactly where we are. May our senses keep us grounded and connected in every moment, letting anxiety and worries fall away and draw us near to you with the very gift of our bodies. In your name we pray. Amen. Thanks for allowing me to be a companion on your journey. If you're longing for more opportunities to be present with other peace seekers, you can join our community online at exploringpeace.com. We're starting a new series of group spiritual direction in late October, and we'd love to have you. You can be a part of our growing community and support this podcast for less than a fancy cup of coffee just once a month. May be mindful in your day today. Noticing, using the gift of your senses. I look forward to connecting you with you here again next week. You can also find me online at Whitney Rsimpson.com. Until next time, may peace be with you.