Mindful Commute

Hi there. It's Dora from Headspace. Now, our everyday commute may consist of thoughts or feelings of just wanting to get there. Maybe we're feeling impatient, in a rush, or we wish we could be doing something different. But what if we could find a way to enjoy the journey and forget about the destination just for a little while? This is where mindfulness can be helpful, inviting us to be aware and even learn to appreciate where we are as we travel towards where we're headed. Awareness and appreciation are two ways we can cultivate a greater sense of calm, connection, and kindness towards ourselves and others. So whether you're preparing to leave home, walking to work, or in the car, this practice can be done anywhere as long as it's safe to do so. So right now, just beginning to notice how your body feels in this moment, feeling into the feet, legs, belly, the arms, hands, noticing the shoulders and the jaw. And then beginning to notice the different thoughts present in the mind. And noticing what emotions are here visiting us, keeping the eyes open to a soft, gentle gaze. And let's take a deep breath here, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. Now bringing a slight smile to the face, if that feels good. Or maybe even resting a hand over your heart, feeling and connecting to a sense of warmth and appreciation. Just beginning to notice what you can see. Perhaps there's other people, cars, cyclists, taking them in and appreciating them as they are, appreciating that we're all on this journey together. Perhaps if we're in traffic, remembering that we are the cause of traffic for someone else. So recognizing this shared sense of human experience, noticing the weather, the landscape, the road, whatever you can see, just appreciating the environment and the surroundings you're in. Allowing any thoughts to come and go, staying connected to what is in front of you and around you. Now beginning to notice what you can hear, all the different sounds that are present. And again, seeing if you can just appreciate where you are in this moment. What can you choose to appreciate? And then just letting that go. Connecting with the body again, noticing how you feel, the different thoughts that are present. Taking another deep breath here, and as you continue on with the rest of your day, I invite you to bring this practice with you, to slow down, pause, notice your surroundings, and appreciate the moment that you're in. You'll be surprised at how a little mindfulness and appreciation has the power to transform your everyday commute into a meaningful adventure....