Now we'll move away from bodily mindfulness and hearing mindfulness and focus on the sensations of taste, smell, and sight, beginning with the food we eat.
“Let us establish ourselves in the present now, eating in such a way that solidity, joy, and tranquility be attainable at the time of eating,” says renowned Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh.
Eating allows you to feed your body while also feeding your mindfulness practice.
“To be entirely involved with what you are doing right now is the actual secret of life. And instead of calling it work, acknowledge that it is actually play.”
This technique can be done in any position, however being motionless while eating is beneficial.
This reduces distracting stimuli and allows you to concentrate on the event. This may be done with any food.
Instructions
- Starting with something simple, such as raisins, berries, or a handful of your favorite vegetables, is a good place to start. Begin by visually observing the meal.
- Take note of the many colors, shapes, and sizes. Observe your want to consume while you gaze at the food. There's nothing wrong with being hungry, but desires should be allowed to come and go.
- Return your attention to the meal. After that, look into the food's odor. Some meals have more potent odors than others, and you may need to hold the meal up to your nose to detect them.
- Allow yourself to be fully immersed in the sensation of smelling.
- Simply refocus your attention to the fragrance in front of you when your mind begins to want.
- Take a minute before you eat to appreciate the energy that went into its creation. People toiled to cultivate and deliver this food to you. Nutrients, rainfall, and sunshine were all given by Mother Nature.
- Perhaps someone else prepared, cleaned, or packaged it for you. Bring to recall all of the energy that came together to produce this meal from numerous sources. Slowly take up the food now.
- If you're using any utensils, pay attention to the sensation of touch as you use them. Consider how the food or utensil in your hand feels.
- Is the meal cold, heated, stiff, or soft?
- Observe your impulse to chew and swallow fast as you place the food in your mouth. Instead, begin by feeling the food's temperature.
- Can you feel the form of the food in your mouth? Take note of the texture of the meal as you begin to chew. Do you notice any changes while you chew?
- Take note of the tastes. You could find it difficult to do more than name what you're eating, such as "It's a raspberry."
- Make an effort to delve a bit deeper. Is there a variety of flavors?
- As you continue to chew, pay attention to how the flavors change.
- Tune in to the sensation of swallowing when you swallow each bite. How does it feel as the food passes down your throat?
- You could also feel compelled to take another taste right away.
- Take a moment to see whether any flavor lingers in your tongue. You may keep eating this way as long as you remind yourself to slow down and be present.
- Continue to notice any new sights, scents, tastes, sensations, or ideas that come to mind.
- Allow yourself to feel grateful for the food that is sustaining your body after you have finished eating. Allow your thoughts to relax into a sense of gratitude for the energy and life around you.
What to When you Start to Hurry while Eating?
Mindful eating is a patience-testing practice that also demands some self-control.
- If you try to eat slowly, you may find that you have a strong desire to eat faster.
- Most of us normally begin preparing our next piece of food while still eating our previous meal.
- Slow eating is the cornerstone of mindful eating. Simply pause, breathe, and slow down if a hunger takes over.
You may also want to read more about Mindfulness Meditation and Healing here.