I open my Facebook this morning and see the daily traffic complaints. Traffic is getting heavier at this time of the year. More people on the road, more people feeling stuck. Can you change the traffic? Probably not. But, you can change your perception of it. Use the time stuck in traffic to become more present, or mindful.
Mindfulness training is a buzz word these days. But, what does it mean? Why should you try it? When you cultivate mindfulness you teach yourself how to respond instead of react, how to keep your thoughts from hijacking you, how to take control of your own decisions instead of being led along through life stuck in certain grooves and repeating the same mistakes.
How many times have you done something you later regretted? Have you noticed how your mind follows a string of thoughts afterwards- “Why did I do that?”, “I didn’t want to make that mistake again, but I did.”, “Why can’t I stop doing that?”, “I must be useless.”, “I can’t ever change!”……… and on and on it goes. Mindfulness is about breaking that chain.
So, back to the traffic. What can you do when you are sitting in traffic, getting annoyed because you have somewhere to be. Traffic can be an opportunity! (I may have just lost some of you there…) No, really, it is an opportunity. It is an opportunity to train your mind.
First, notice your physical space. Notice your feet, one on the floor, one on the brake. Notice how you are sitting in the seat- the sensations of the seat beneath you, the way your back feels. Notice your hands on the wheel- the texture and temperature of the steering wheel. Notice the physical sensations of the temperature in the car, the way the heater is blowing air on you and the feeling of that moving air. Then bring your attention to your breath. First notice the way your body moves with your breath- the expansion of your belly and ribs as you inhale, and the contraction as you exhale. Now notice the air moving through you. Imagine it in your mind’s eye, watching it as you inhale and exhale. Look around and notice everything you can see. Without judgement, just see- notice the colors, the shapes, the light and the shadows. Then notice everything you can hear. Notice the volume, pitch, and quality of the sounds. Next notice the sensations of touch. The feel of the steering wheel, the sensation of the heater blowing against your skin, the softness of the seat beneath you. Finally, bring your awareness to smells. Fresh air, perfume, the smell of your car. Without judgement, notice these smells. Then take a look around you at the other people in their cars. They are all going somewhere, just like you. Without judgement, send a kind thought to them- “may you reach your destination safely.”
Happy travels, everyone. May you all stay safe on the roads. One last little tidbit- If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
On and Off the Yoga Mat 