Lost Keys and Wandering Minds

If you habitually misplace your car keys, as my dear friend Louise used to do, you have probably tried to train yourself to put your keys in the same place. That helps, of course, but keys are tricky little things. They are not like toothbrushes, which generally stay in the bathroom. Keys travel with us. They move from cars to counters, pockets to purses, offices to friends’ houses, and sometimes, apparently, into mysterious alternate dimensions.

I digress.

Because many routine activities do not require our full attention, we can complete them while our minds drift elsewhere —somewhere not in the present moment.

When the body is operating on auto pilot, the mind may be very busy reviewing a conversation with a spouse, worrying over something one of the kids said, planning dinner, or practicing how to ask the boss for a raise. Meanwhile, we fail to notice where we set down our keys, where we parked the car, or why we walked into the bedroom. 

This is where mindfulness enters the picture.

At the most basic level, mindfulness can be thought of as being present in the moment—being cognizant of where we are and what we are doing.

Let's go back to the elusive keys, large parking lots, and meandering trips through the house. If you relate to this, perhaps you'd like to try a little mindful hack. First, we need to notice that our attention is somewhere else and gently bring it back to the present task. 

Try saying it out loud. It may feel silly at first, but it works because speaking interrupts autopilot and brings the mind's attention back to the present moment.

During beginning levels of meditation and mindfulness training, teachers typically suggest activities designed for us to practice staying present and focused on where we are ar what we are experiencing. 

Are you up for a small mindfulness experiment?

One fun practice is to stay present and pay attention to your body throughout an ordinary activity. Some examples. Notice sensations such as: the movement of your hands and the temperature of the water while washing dishes; the feeling of water cascading over your body as you shower; the muscular movements in your body while walking to the car; or the flavor, texture, and aromatic sensations experienced while eating a meal.

Afterward, pause for a moment and notice what the experience was like.

Did you remain present throughout the task?

Did you enjoy the experience?

Did you feel relaxed during or after completing the task?

How did you feel about noticing the physical sensations?

Did you appreciate the break from whatever the mind had been doing before you began the activity?

And so....?

The point is that mindfulness is something we can employ everyday in various ways to help us feel more sane or serene. At this basic level,, we practice being in the present moment by paying attention to our environment and our physical sensations in real-time. But there are many more levels of practice with bigger payoffs for our physical and mental well-being.

If you are reading my novels in the Souls by the Sea series, you know that life coach Drew Carson goes beyond the basics when she encourages her clients to use various forms of mindfulness in an effort to nudge them toward the self-awareness they need to pursue their goals. She does not lecture them or hand them tidy answers. Instead, she encourages them to slow down, notice their thoughts and emotional reactions to others and events. I'll share more about those techniques in future posts.

While I am not an expert, I practice mindfulness to varying degrees daily in real life, and I appreciate the continual growth in regard to my own self-awareness.

If you would like to take a deep dive into mindfulness from a Buddhist perspective, Joseph Goldstein is the guy. He has two books on the topic you might delve into. You can also find some humorous, less intensive interviews with him on Dan Harris's podcast. 

No, I'm not getting paid to promote anyone here. I just really appreciate their work.

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