Let’s take a few minutes and get mindful today. Mindfulness is the opposite of distraction. The more mindful you are, the more aware you’ll become of yourself, what’s going on inside of you, as well as what’s going on outside and beyond yourself. It’s a great exercise for your soul.
Find a comfortable place to sit. Keep your feet flat on the floor and your hands comfortably on your lap. Use your nose to inhale as well as exhale. Practice this breathing meditation for 20 minutes. Each step should take 5 minutes:
STEP 1: Close your eyes and begin counting each breath. Watch your breath come and go as it follows its own natural rhythm. Count at the end of each outgoing breath. Count ten breaths in this way and then count another ten:
Example: Breathe in, breathe out, and count one.
Breathe in, breathe out, and count two… and so on up to ten.
Continue in another ten-breath cycle.
STEP 2: Now, I want you to count your breath just before the incoming breath. Although this change is subtle, it’ll create a different emphasis in the way you pay attention to the breath.
Example: Count one, breathe in, and breathe out.
Count two, breathe in, breathe out…and so on up to ten.
Continue in another ten-breath cycle.
STEP 3: Let go of the counting completely and simply observe your breath come and go with no effort. Enjoy the experience as you become even more aware of the sensation of your breathing. Also, pay attention to those small spaces between the breaths.
STEP 4: Lightly focus your attention on the feeling near the tip of your nose and lips, as your breath comes and goes. Try not to strain or force anything. Practice a relaxed focus on your breath. Become aware of the tranquil energy inside of you and give yourself a few moments to blend with this energy as you become one with it. Feel how far the energy of your soul reaches outward. Feel the love within your heart, the feelings of tranquility and peace as you meet and experience yourself as a soul.
This is who you are. This is your soul stepping forward to meet you halfway. Remember this feeling as you bring yourself back to the present. Please don’t worry if your eyes fill with tears. It’s quite natural as your heart is being filled, a space that might have felt empty for quite a long time. We all go through this when our soul touches us.