The energy flowing between you, your body, and your connections with the body of the world can be consciously appreciated - if you pay close enough attention.Let this practice of mindful listening to a larger body tune you in to the joy of the world.
1. The next time you are part of an audience or group of people who are laughing, decide to explore the energetic connections of joy.
2. Set your intention. For example, "May this practice inspire and enliven me."
3. Direct your mindful attention to the sounds of laughter; notice the loudness, the high and low tones, the rising and fading sounds, and the quiet spaces.
4. As thoughts or stories arise in your mind, let them go without following them.
5. Notice the sensations in your body as the laughter flows around you. Enjoy the moment as your body feels the joyful energy flowing through it.
6. Take comfort in the sounds of joy. You are part of this laughter and human connection.
Excerpt from FIVE GOOD MINUTES® IN YOUR BODY: 100 Mindful Practices to Help You Accept Yourself & Feel at Home in Your Body
JEFFREY BRANTLEY, MD, is a consulting associate in the Duke Department of Psychiatry and the founder and director of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program at Duke University’s Center for Integrative Medicine. He is author of Calming Your Anxious Mind and coauthor of Five Good Minutes, Five Good Minutes in the Evening, Five Good Minutes at Work, and The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook. Dr. Brantley is founder and director of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program at Duke University’s Center for Integrative Medicine.
WENDY MILLSTINE, NC, is a freelance writer and certified holistic nutrition consultant who specializes in diet and stress reduction. She is coauthor of Five Good Minutes, Five Good Minutes in the Evening, and Five Good Minutes at Work.