Mindfulness Practice: Using Our Eyes
“Breathing in, I know I’m alive.”
“Breathing out, I smile.”
“Breathing in, I’m aware of my eyes.”
“Breathing out, I smile to my eyes.”
“Breathing out, I smile.”
“Breathing in, I’m aware of my eyes.”
“Breathing out, I smile to my eyes.”
Our eyes are a precious gift. We can feel gratitude for our eyes every day, for they support us each day - helping us navigate the world around us, connecting us with the people we love, and allowing us to enjoy the beauty that makes up our universe. We need only to open our eyes and look around to enjoy the kaleidoscope of life mixing all around us. It's truly a paradise. We have a wonderland of colors, shapes, patterns, textures, reflections, and shadows for us to appreciate in each moment, if we stop to open our eyes. What a miracle it is to see. Sight should inspire great joy and gratitude in us, making happiness possible, anytime. Even when our feelings, surroundings, or situations aren’t perfect, we have eyes. If you have eyes in good condition, simply open them and enjoy what you see.
When we look at our loved ones, if we can see they’re absorbed in anxiety or tense from stress, we can remind them of their eyes as a way out of their suffering. “My love, do you see the beautiful clouds? Do you see the flowers coming through the soil? Do you see the beautiful reflection on the water?” This is mindfulness. This is being present and aware of what is happening around us now. With our mindful breath, we always have conditions for happiness within us, but if for any reason it's difficult to touch our internal happiness, we can look to the infinite inspiration for joy all around us.
When we look at our loved ones, if we can see they’re absorbed in anxiety or tense from stress, we can remind them of their eyes as a way out of their suffering. “My love, do you see the beautiful clouds? Do you see the flowers coming through the soil? Do you see the beautiful reflection on the water?” This is mindfulness. This is being present and aware of what is happening around us now. With our mindful breath, we always have conditions for happiness within us, but if for any reason it's difficult to touch our internal happiness, we can look to the infinite inspiration for joy all around us.
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Deepen Your Understanding: We can practice being mindful of an external object to train our mindfulness. When we focus all of our attention on one object, we'll be surprised by how many complex and nuanced details a seemingly simple object can have. When we practice looking deeply into something outside of ourselves, it becomes easier to reflect inwardly and discover complexities about ourselves and our innermost feelings.
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