Imagine me humming and singing this as you read it ....haha!
'… Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favourite things...
Delight - one of my favourite antidotes for a sad or heavy heart. It has the ability to lift you to new heights, cause warmth to radiate from your heart and a smile to form on your lips.
It's so important to have tools in our toolbox to empower us to counteract any heaviness, stresses and the pressures that come at us on a daily basis. Our minds can be geared towards looking out for problems or things we identify as wrong because we care or have the desire to fix things. We can honour the fact this can be useful when we need, but not all the time. So training our minds for gratitude, joy, delight and to be still, to pause and to let go is so important for our mental health and well-being.
We have reached day 4 of my 21 Day Mindfulness inspirations - amazing! I'm enjoying sharing these reflections with you and my prayer is that these provide you with that space and moment of stillness and contemplation in your busy day and that you come away feeling revived and rejuvenated.
Now what does the song from The Sound of Music have to do with the Mindfulness for today? It's actually what came to mind (while showering), as I have these moments of clarity that happen in the shower a lot! A new idea, an exciting download, an inspiration for writing or business or a creative solution to a challenge tend to happen in the shower, while I'm driving or walking. Does this happen for your too? Isn't it cool when it does. I love to write these blog posts from a place of joy and inspiration as I find it flows a lot easier for me. Anyway back to the song. It popped into my head and I listened to it and realized without reminding ourselves of the things and activities or the people we delight in or find delightful, life can get extremely heavy.
What do you love? What do you delight in? What brings you joy?
As I ask these questions, what or who comes to mind? Remember there is no right or wrong answer, and allow your thoughts and feelings to flow in the direction of this word delight.
I think of ice creams, hot cups of teas, a beautiful sunset, nature, my daughter laughing, our dog Ewok, seeing people happy and receiving amazing news, a mountain top view, looking at the clouds while on a plane. Allow anything and everything that brings you delight and joy to come to mind. Does delight have a colour? If so what colour is it for you? Is it soft, sharp, warm, cool, fluffy?
Let's continue to embrace this word 'Delight' together in a mindfulness visualization.
Let's get comfortable where you are sitting or lie down in a relaxed position. Allow your mind to settle and calm and let's close our eyes or look in front of you in a soft gaze. I invite you to take our usual deep conscious breaths together. Breathing in deeply for 4 - hold for 2 - then exhale for 4.
Repeat this a few times with me. You should feel a lot more centered when you do this. Notice the support underneath you.
Imagine yourself standing at the edge of a beautiful, lush garden. The sun is shining warmly, and a gentle breeze is blowing. The air is filled with the fresh, invigorating scent of blooming flowers and fresh herbs. As you take a step into the garden, feel the soft grass beneath your feet. With each step, allow yourself to become more present, more aware of your surroundings.
Look around the garden. See the vibrant colors of the flowers, the rich green of the leaves, and the clear blue sky above. Each color is bright and full of life. Listen to the sounds around you. Hear the birds singing, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, and perhaps a distant stream flowing gently. Notice the scents in the air. Breathe deeply and savor the delicate fragrance of roses, the sharp tang of lemon blossoms, and the soothing aroma of rosemary.
As you walk through the garden, find a comfortable spot to sit or lie down. Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, the gentle caress of the breeze. Allow yourself to fully immerse in this moment. Notice the small details: the way the light filters through the leaves, the intricate patterns on the petals of a flower, the gentle hum of bees gathering nectar. Pick a single flower and hold it gently. Observe its beauty, its colors, and its unique shape. Feel a sense of delight arising within you, a pure and simple joy from being present in this moment.
Bring to mind a moment in your life when you felt pure delight. It could be a memory from childhood, a moment of accomplishment, or a simple pleasure like watching a sunset. Allow the feelings associated with this memory to fill your heart. Feel the warmth, the joy, and the lightness that come with it. Let this sense of delight spread throughout your body, touching every part of you.
Stay with this feeling for a while. Let it deepen and expand. Notice how it feels in your body and mind. If your mind begins to wander, gently bring it back to the sensations of delight. Use your breath as an anchor, inhaling delight and exhaling any remaining tension or stress.
When you are ready, slowly bring your awareness back to the room. Move your fingers and toes, roll your shoulders, notice the surface you are sitting on. Open your eyes and take a moment to notice how you feel compared to before you started the mindfulness meditation.
Thank you for joining me on this mindfulness inspiration today, I'm happy you've taken the time for yourself today. Don't forget, if you enjoy listening to these audibly, you can do so on our You Tube channel Mia Belle New Zealand or on our Beautiful Minds NZ Podcast on Spotify.
Until next time,
Cath xoxo