Practicing awareness of emotions with mindfulness practice serves as the foundation for our emotional wellbeing. We can begin this practice simply by setting aside a few moments at certain intervals in our day to engage in the following mindful inquiry:
“What am I feeling?”
If we aren’t accustomed to being in touch with our feelings, it may be difficult to identify them in the beginning, but with practice we come to know the shape of our feelings and their accompanying sensations in the body. Once we identify the feeling, we can name it silently to ourselves.
“Where am I feeling it in the body?”
“What is the quality of these sensations?”
The practice then is to maintain awareness of the sensations, as the present moment expression of an emotion rises, swells, and crests like a wave through sensation in the body. Paying attention in this way, we notice whether the sensations remain at the same level of intensity, increase, or decrease.
As feelings arise spontaneously throughout the day, pausing to practice mindfulness of feelings can help us to remain calm and centered. Practicing awareness of emotions empowers us to discern our needs, clearly communicate our feelings and needs to others, and act on our own behalf in the interest of our wellbeing.
Ophelia is a little walking owl, bewitched by her unconscious feminine, her father, and what “they say.” She never finds her own voice. She never finds her own body or her own feelings and therefore misses life and love in the here and now. –Marion Woodman
If you would like to learn more about mindfulness, inquire about mindfulness coaching services.