Mindfulness

For this part of the process you may open your eyes. Observe what you see in the space around you. The objects, the space, the beauty, the imperfection. Say to yourself, “this is not who I am.”

Followed by “So, who am I?” Just sit with whatever answer comes to your awareness in this moment.

Become aware of the fact that as your external environment or life situations change constantly there is an “I”.

Ask, “Who am I?”

Now, bring your attention to your sense organs.

Notice what you hear, smell, feel, taste or see. Imagine your ability to see was dramatically impaired.

Notice that the “I” that is the seer is not impacted by the change in your ability to see. Imagine your ability to hear was dramatically impaired.

Notice that the “I” that is the hearer is not impacted by the change in your ability to hear.

Ask, “Who am I?”

Now close your eyes and bring your awareness to your vital organs and bodily processes. Sense your heart beating, your digestion, and the complexity of the human machine that you are.

Notice that whether your heart rate is fast or slow, your stomach is full or empty, or your machine is working in harmony or a state of disease, there is an “I” that exists beyond it all. An “I” that experiences life in this body but is not the body itself.

Ask, “Who am I?”

Bring your awareness to the thoughts in your mind. You may be hearing the words of this exercise in your mind, whether my voice or yours. You may have been experiencing intermittent random thoughts throughout this exercise. You may find yourself thinking about the sensations in your body related to what you were just considering. You may be hearing answers echoing in your mind to the question you asked, “Who am I?”

Whatever thoughts may be in your mind now or at any moment, notice they are usually accompanied by words. Sometimes these thoughts move fast, other times slow. Sometimes they are positive, other times negative. Sometimes they are about your identity, your traits, or who you think you are. Other times they’re about others or your opinions or judgments. Sometimes they are about what is happening in this moment and other times they are about memories or the potentials in the future.

But more than anything, notice that regardless of the contents of your mind and thoughts, there is always and “I” who is there beyond the thoughts, an “I” that does not change depending on your thoughts.

Ask, “Who am I?”

At the beginning of this exercise, you were asked to imagine that this “I” existed at the center of your forehead, however the truth is you are much broader than this.

So, ask yourself “Where am I?” and simply observe the thoughts or sensations that come as an answer.

Feel that you inhabit it all…

…the mental space

…the body

…the senses

Ask, “Who am I?”

…and even your environment

Feel yourself filling your body and overflowing into the space around you.

Be with all of those things but know that they are not what or who you are.

Who you are is beneath, beyond and bigger than any of it.

Feel the power and magnitude of who you really are.

We believe the above two mindfulness exercises have proved to be valuable for you.