Finding Stillness, Even When the Laundry Pile Looms

Hello, mindful friends. Welcome back to The Noticing Stone.

Ever have one of those mornings where your to-do list screams louder than your inner voice?

Let’s take a look at how Sarah started her day with the undeniable Everest of laundry.

She stood there, surveying the colorful chaos, her mind immediately jumped to judgment: "Ugh! So much to do! I'm already behind. Why didn't I tackle this last night?"

Sound familiar?

That’s precisely when the power of the Pause – Notice – Return practice, with our trusty stone in hand, becomes so vital. She picked up her smooth, cool stone and took a breath.

Instead of getting swept away by the mental to-do tornado, she simply noticed the thoughts. "So much laundry" was there, along with a feeling of slight overwhelm. But here’s the key: She tried her best to notice these thoughts without attaching judgment. They were just… thoughts. Clouds passing in the sky of her mind.

This act of non-judgmental observation is more profound than it seems. Neuroscientific studies have shown that mindfulness practices, like noticing our thoughts without immediate reaction, can actually help to rewire our brains.

Regular practice can lead to increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, the area associated with emotional regulation and self-awareness, while potentially dampening activity in the amygdala, the brain's fear center. This means that with practice, we can become less reactive to stressful thoughts and feelings, like the looming laundry pile, and respond with more calm and clarity.

So, this week, as you navigate your own "laundry piles," both literal and metaphorical, I invite you to pick up your noticing stone. Take a moment to Pause. Notice what thoughts and feelings arise, striving to observe them without judgment. Then, gently Return your attention to the present moment, perhaps focusing on the sensation of the stone in your palm.

Discover the power of simply noticing. And if you’d like to explore more about mindful living, please visit us anytime at The Noticing Stone, where you will find new Blog Posts every Monday and Friday.

Thanks for taking the time to Pause and join us for a moment.

Until next time, and remember,

Mindfulness is in the Palm of Your Hand.

~ The Noticing Stone