Mindfulness Challenges

Deeper Meaning Behind Noticing Blue

I am quite sure that you are wondering

“What in the world is the underlying meaning behind the little simple task of noticing the color blue?”

This particular task allows each of us who engage this mindfulness exercise to turn off the switch and the unhealthy program of negative thoughts that happens to be running inside our minds. Most of us have a program that continuously runs second after second; we are always churning the same worrisome thoughts, the same concerns. We find that we are nurturing stress because we simply can’t change the channel. We cannot find a way to switch to another screen. How in the world do we do that then?

Some people simply try to stop thinking unhealthy thoughts since there is little doubt which thoughts are healthy and which thoughts are not. This strategy can work for a few seconds but usually the thoughts will immediately creep back in. An easier way – and I might add a more fruitful and enjoyable way – is to literally switch into an entirely different program that is not only unfamiliar, but quite simple to do.

The program this week is to notice the color blue. It switches the program that you are habitually run over and over in your mind. Instead of churning the very same concerns and thoughts and worries that are promulgating stress throughout all the tissues of your body, you literally switch that program off. It is as if you are a computer and you are saying to yourself,

“This program is not going to be running today. Today we’re going to be turning on a different program to run our thoughts.”

The program that you turn on turns out to be a harmless – and I might add somewhat mindless program – of noticing a very specific color. In this case, the magnificent color of blue. Becoming mindful of a very specific color will do just that. It switches off one screen, it turns off one program and it turns on another program which is positive, interesting, enjoyable, fun and energizing.

There is another important reason why blue has a magnificent value to each of us. The fifth chakra is located in the throat. It supports and nurtures our voice. The equivalent color of the fifth chakra turns out to be blue. When I say equivalent color I’m also talking about the frequency that is associated with the throat and fifth chakra.

Some people with Parkinson’s confront challenges with vocalization––with being able to talk clearly and coherently. Noticing the color blue is an indirect way of healing a chakra at the fifth level (which spins at the center of the throat) that may be spinning erratically and chaotically. If the spin is not wide and smooth, the organs associated with the throat are not able to function properly. When you connect with the color blue you resonate with the frequency that is the equivalent of the color blue. In so doing, you entrain that fifth chakra to stop the wobbling, to stop the skirting from side to side and to enact an even, smooth and nurturing movement that circles around evenly and gently so that your voice can be heard loudly and clearly. The color blue is healing for just this reason.

As you were searching for blue these past few days you were also connecting and resonating with the equivalent frequency of blue. You were also nurturing your fifth chakra back to full health and wellness.

Have you noticed that your ability to speak has been enhanced as you have been the detective on the search for the color blue? That is why. Oftentimes an innocent task can yield enormous dividends and returns.

Have fun as you continue to be a detective searching everywhere you encounter for the color blue. You have the potential of achieving two important outcomes: nurturing thoughts that are good for your health and healing a voice that can be heard by all.

Robert

Notice Blue

The mindfulness challenge this week is to become a detective wherever you happen to find yourself – whether it is inside a familiar room or outside in a place you have never visited – to notice and acknowledge the color blue wherever you encounter it.

By a detective I mean the following. As you move from one place to the next, focus your attention on searching for the color blue. Anything counts––pictures, carpets, leafs, flowers, hairs of people that have been colored blue, cars, buildings, products in stores, clothes, lipstick, the sky, crayons, food… Maintain a watchful gaze wherever you find yourself. Acknowledge and notice the color blue.

A companion challenge (if you decide to accept the challenge to notice the color blue) is to keep a count of the number of objects that contain blue throughout the week. Each day, begin the count with the number one and increment the count with each new object that you find which contains blue. Don’t count on a piece of paper. Count in your mind.

What in the world is the reason for keeping a count in your mind each day? It forges new neural networks. If you forget the count at 1:30 in the afternoon and think to yourself,

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I can’t remember the count from earlier today.”

Do not worry or fret about it. The effort of simply trying to keep count actually works just as well in creating new neural networks. It is engaging the effort of trying that makes the difference.

By the end of the day you will have a total count to acknowledge as you close your eyes for bed. Whatever that final tally may be – whether 24, 82, 109 or 1,022 – close your eyes and celebrate your success with keeping count from the beginning to the end of the day. Acknowledge the beauty and wonders of the world as it is exhibited through the magnificent color of blue.

Robert

Deeper Implications Behind Smiling

How has your practice of mindful smiling been coming along this week? Have you noticed some resistance to the challenge? Have you resisted the challenge of smiling when you were feeling down in the dumps? I have some additional incentives that I want to offer to you, especially to those of you who may find the challenge to smile as frequently as possible throughout the day to be problematic.

Research actually shows that smiling – and get this list – lowers blood pressure and enhances the immune system. It also has a tendency to release natural painkillers, those wonderful endorphins in our bodies. Perhaps best of all smiling is a natural anti-depressant because it actually produces serotonin in the body. People who make it a habit to smile live seven years longer than people who do not have a habit of smiling throughout the day.

It also turns out that people perceive individuals who smile to be younger and even more attractive. I like the younger part particularly well. The perception is also that people who smile are more successful and someone they would like to get to know. All in all this is an impressive list of advantages.

Might I remind you, smiling costs nothing. No doctors are required. No visit to a healthcare professional is necessary. Smiling is something you can do anytime of the day; morning, afternoon and evening. It is a divine gift that you can give to yourself.

Yes, it does make other people feel better when they see us smiling and happy. It also enhances our own mood. Best of all smiling nurtures our body into being able to produce dopamine naturally. No prescription medication or supplement is required when we have that wonderful ability to smile our way throughout life.

May you have a delightful week and may you celebrate how much better you are feeling this week because you are smiling.

Robert

Smile

My mindfulness challenge for you this week is to smile each and every time you see a reflection of yourself in a mirror or perhaps even in a windowpane. Invite yourself to smile if the image that you see of yourself shows a person who is sad or neutral in their expression.

You may say to yourself,

“What just a minute Rodgers, you’re telling me that if I’m feeling really low and down in the dumps I’m supposed to pretend as though I’m happy, I have to put a happy face on? That’s not genuine and I’m a person who thinks it’s important to be truthful about who we are and how we are feeling.”

I say to you that is all well and good. I honor you for that authenticity. However, what we have discovered is that forcing smiles transforms moods.

There is a technology known as Laughter Yoga which really consists of people sitting around a circle who are laughing. Jokes are not even a part of this therapy. People literally just force themselves to laugh. When they start the exercise I can assure you everyone is not feeling in a positive mood. When they finish, everyone is elated with how good they actually feel. Forcing smiles through forced laughter does transform moods.

When I walk down the sidewalks in downtown Olympia, I pass many people. I can assure you that when I pass by an individual who has a smile on their face, I feel yummy inside. It really transforms whatever mood state I might currently be in. I also know that when I walk in downtown Olympia, Washington with a smile on my face, each person that I pass by also has a transformation and they begin smiling as well. I affect others and I also have a profound impact on myself.

So again, to repeat, each time you see an image of yourself, whether in a mirror or a reflection in a window or any reflection – even if it is in water – look at yourself and smile. You’ll be amazed at what difference it can make with how you are feeling in the moment. Become mindful of your smiling acuity. It will make a difference on how you get through each and every day.

May you have a fun filled week with a smiling grim on your face.

Robert