This year is a quest to find out what makes you happy. Each month I will post activities which you will practice every day. You will keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings about the week's activity. At the end of each week spend 15 minutes writing in your journal. Write about whether or not you liked the activity, how it made you feel to practice it every day, and what you learned about yourself during the exercise or at week's end. Try each activity even if you think you will not like it. You will spend between 5 and 15 minutes at most each day so no excuses that you don't have time.
For January we will practice mindfulness in our activities. The idea is to do the activity and nothing else, concentrate on the sensations you experience without judgement. When you find yourself judging just notice it and turn you attention back to the activity. Mindfulness is observing, describing and participating. Don't forget to journal at the end of each week.
January, 2012
Week 1: Eat 1 to 2 squares of dark chocolate each day. Spend at least 5 minutes eating each square. Look at it, smell it, slowly take a small bite and pay attention to how it tastes and feels on your tongue.
Week 2: When you shower, use a scented body wash instead of soap. If you shower in the morning, use a citrus scent to help wake you up. If you shower in the evening, use a relaxing scent like lavender. Go to the drugstore and look for sample sizes so you can try different scents. Spend at least 5 minutes concentrating how it smells and feels.
Week 3: Drink one cup of herbal tea each day. Spend at least 10 minutes drinking it staying focused on the tea, its temperature, how it smells, how it tastes.
Week 4: Apply a scented hand lotion twice per day. Spend 5 minutes each time and observe, describe and participate.
Have fun!
