Have You Met Your "Big Self"?
We’ve been very interested in Mindful Listening of late. (Thank you to all of you who joined us for the Mindful Listening + Speaking workshop at the New Canaan Library!). And usually the focus is on listening to the people in our lives. There are also benefits to just listening to the sounds around us.
When you sit down and think about what you have to do tomorrow, where do you feel the “self” that’s associated with that activity? Not sure? Why don’t you give it a try right now for a few moments.
When we do this, we might feel like our “self” is located in our head, or maybe right around our left collar bone, or another contained location in the body. And it may feel small, compact, enclosed.
When you pause for a few moments to listen to the sounds around you, really settling in to the point where the soundscape comes alive, where do you feel the “self” that’s associated with that activity? Not sure? Why don’t you give it a try right now for a few moments.
When you really pay attention to the sounds around you, your sense of self may seem to expand outward, and you may have the sense that you are an integral part of your surroundings, instead of an isolated entity. You may feel not just connected to the world, but literally a part of it. And this expansive feeling of “Big Self” is much more peaceful than the tight, compact sense of “Small Self.” This may not be your experience, but it’s worth exploring what your experience is.
This doesn’t need to be done sitting quietly with your eyes closed. You can turn everyday activities where you might be prone to boredom into a completely different experience. When you’re out walking the dog on a fall evening, you can play a game, challenging yourself to see how many different sounds you hear as you walk. You’re not really identifiying the sounds, just taking in all the distinct sounds you become aware of as you walk along. This cocktail of curiosity and connection can bring on a sense of optimism and peace.
This week we invite you to join us as we practice tuning in to the sounds around us and we spend some time with our “Big Selves”.
May all beings everywhere without exception feel themselves to be an integral and essential part of the world around them,
Your friends at CMP
CMP survives on donations. All of our weekly sessions are free and open to the public, but donations are essential to our sustainability. CMP is a licensed charity in the state of CT as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Checks, cash and credit cards are accepted and donations are tax deductible. Checks can be given to facilitators at our weekly sits or mailed to Community Mindfulness Project, P.O. Box 1713, New Canaan, CT 06840.
