Two Ways of Doing Anything
Two Ways of Doing Anything (Or, How to Savor the Journey) Date / Time
So far today, have you brought kind awareness to your: Thoughts?
Heart?
Body?
None of the Above
Introduction: Have you ever thought that there could be two ways of doing anything? For example, you can wash the dishes to get them done with because they’re a chore you don’t like . . . or, you can do the dishes in order to do the dishes. Likewise, you can drive your car to get from point A to point B . . . or, you can drive your car in order to drive your car. Here’s another example. You can do your homework or office work in order to get the best grade, highest accolades, or get a promotion . . . or, you can do your work with a sense of curiosity, openness, and total engagement. In any of the cases above, you still get to your intended goal—of washing the dishes, driving where you want to go, and getting a positive response to your work. What’s more, you savor the journey. That means you are less likely to feel pressured, anxious, or unhappy about the activity before you, or to have an unfortunate accident along the way because you were wishing you were somewhere else! Even Henry David Thoreau experienced the problem of being present when he was living and walking around Walden Pond in the mid 1880s—and he didn’t have an iPhone or iPad to distract him! Here’s what he wrote in his Essay on Walking:
It sometimes happens that I cannot easily shake off the village. The thought of some work will run in my head, and I am not where my body is; I am out of my senses . . . What business have I in the woods if I am thinking of something out of the woods?
Instructions: Choose from among one of the following activities. It might be useful to choose an activity that you typically resist or don’t like doing. Driving
Homework
Preparing meals
Washing the dishes
Laundry work
Shopping
Vacuuming
Studying for a test
General cleaning
Get more free mindfulness worksheets, talks, eBooks and meditations at
mindfulness MindfulnessExercises.com
Two Ways of Doing Anything (Or, How to Savor the Journey) The point of this practice is not to say you will suddenly love washing the dishes and will run over to your neighbor’s house and volunteer to wash the dishes stacked in their sink! The idea is to change your relationship to an activity. To experience it in a whole new way that lets go of your previous assumptions and dislikes. Do the activity for five or 10 minutes without distraction or multi-tasking—so turn off the TV or other devices and see what it is like to focus, slow down and notice every little detail that you can. Allow yourself to experience this chore or activity as if it were the very first time you have ever done it. Using the example of washing dishes: • Before starting, spend a few moments just to reflect on the dishes and utensils and how they have helped you enjoy your meal. Take a moment to admire the work and craftsmanship that went into designing and making these items. • Feel the fine movements of your arms, hands, and body as you lift and manipulate the dishes. -- Notice the coolness or warmth of the water as it splashes on your hands. -- Sense the weight, texture, and shape of utensils and plates • Notice the smells and scents of the dishwashing liquid. • Observe all the unique colors and shapes on the dishes as if you had never seen them before. • Listen to the sound of the water and the clinking of plates and cups, and other sounds in the environment. • If you get distracted, return to the sensing of each moment. Reflections: What did you notice most by slowing down and immersing yourself in washing the dishes (or other activity)?
Get more free mindfulness worksheets, talks, eBooks and meditations at
mindfulness MindfulnessExercises.com
Two Ways of Doing Anything (Or, How to Savor the Journey) What daily activities do you typically avoid or rush through? How would a more curious attitude change your experience of that activity?
How could the idea of “two ways of doing anything” become a daily practice? In what way would it be helpful to you? How would it be helpful to those around you?
thank you for your mindfulness practice
May I continue to look deeply into
my mind, my heart and body.
May I see things and meet things
AS THEY ARE
and may this clear and sustained knowing free me
FOR THE SAKE OF
ALL BEINGS. Get more free mindfulness worksheets, talks, eBooks and meditations at
mindfulness MindfulnessExercises.com
So far today, have you brought kind awareness to your: Thoughts?
Heart?
Body?
None of the Above
Introduction: Have you ever thought that there could be two ways of doing anything? For example, you can wash the dishes to get them done with because they’re a chore you don’t like . . . or, you can do the dishes in order to do the dishes. Likewise, you can drive your car to get from point A to point B . . . or, you can drive your car in order to drive your car. Here’s another example. You can do your homework or office work in order to get the best grade, highest accolades, or get a promotion . . . or, you can do your work with a sense of curiosity, openness, and total engagement. In any of the cases above, you still get to your intended goal—of washing the dishes, driving where you want to go, and getting a positive response to your work. What’s more, you savor the journey. That means you are less likely to feel pressured, anxious, or unhappy about the activity before you, or to have an unfortunate accident along the way because you were wishing you were somewhere else! Even Henry David Thoreau experienced the problem of being present when he was living and walking around Walden Pond in the mid 1880s—and he didn’t have an iPhone or iPad to distract him! Here’s what he wrote in his Essay on Walking:
It sometimes happens that I cannot easily shake off the village. The thought of some work will run in my head, and I am not where my body is; I am out of my senses . . . What business have I in the woods if I am thinking of something out of the woods?
Instructions: Choose from among one of the following activities. It might be useful to choose an activity that you typically resist or don’t like doing. Driving
Homework
Preparing meals
Washing the dishes
Laundry work
Shopping
Vacuuming
Studying for a test
General cleaning
Get more free mindfulness worksheets, talks, eBooks and meditations at
mindfulness MindfulnessExercises.com
Two Ways of Doing Anything (Or, How to Savor the Journey) The point of this practice is not to say you will suddenly love washing the dishes and will run over to your neighbor’s house and volunteer to wash the dishes stacked in their sink! The idea is to change your relationship to an activity. To experience it in a whole new way that lets go of your previous assumptions and dislikes. Do the activity for five or 10 minutes without distraction or multi-tasking—so turn off the TV or other devices and see what it is like to focus, slow down and notice every little detail that you can. Allow yourself to experience this chore or activity as if it were the very first time you have ever done it. Using the example of washing dishes: • Before starting, spend a few moments just to reflect on the dishes and utensils and how they have helped you enjoy your meal. Take a moment to admire the work and craftsmanship that went into designing and making these items. • Feel the fine movements of your arms, hands, and body as you lift and manipulate the dishes. -- Notice the coolness or warmth of the water as it splashes on your hands. -- Sense the weight, texture, and shape of utensils and plates • Notice the smells and scents of the dishwashing liquid. • Observe all the unique colors and shapes on the dishes as if you had never seen them before. • Listen to the sound of the water and the clinking of plates and cups, and other sounds in the environment. • If you get distracted, return to the sensing of each moment. Reflections: What did you notice most by slowing down and immersing yourself in washing the dishes (or other activity)?
Get more free mindfulness worksheets, talks, eBooks and meditations at
mindfulness MindfulnessExercises.com
Two Ways of Doing Anything (Or, How to Savor the Journey) What daily activities do you typically avoid or rush through? How would a more curious attitude change your experience of that activity?
How could the idea of “two ways of doing anything” become a daily practice? In what way would it be helpful to you? How would it be helpful to those around you?
thank you for your mindfulness practice
May I continue to look deeply into
my mind, my heart and body.
May I see things and meet things
AS THEY ARE
and may this clear and sustained knowing free me
FOR THE SAKE OF
ALL BEINGS. Get more free mindfulness worksheets, talks, eBooks and meditations at
mindfulness MindfulnessExercises.com
