Jul 16

Jul 16 World Listening Day

Article, General Health, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Self-Care, Stress Management, Tips

This year has challenged each of us. You may have faced unforeseen obstacles that have impacted you mentally and perhaps even physically. World Listening Day on July 18th, is a great time to pause for a few moments and listen to the sounds of the Earth. Whether you can sit on a quiet park bench listening to the birds, walk on the beach to hear the waves crash into shore or simply open a window to take in neighborhood noise, you can use Mother Nature to facilitate mindfulness.

In these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever to take a step back and reflect. Mindfulness is the practice of enhancing a state of awareness. You can use it to achieve a greater understanding of your thoughts, experiences, sensations and emotions.

Here are some tips to utilize mindfulness on World Listening Day:

Find your favorite spot. Whether it is on your front porch or in a park, wherever you feel the most relaxed is best.
Focus on the sounds of the Earth to calm yourself. You should use this time to clear your mind of all thoughts.
When distractions or thoughts arise, acknowledge them and then try to refocus. Allow yourself to have a clear mind and focus on listening during this practice.
Be patient. The practice of mindfulness meditation can be difficult. Start with a short session from 5-10 minutes and work your way up to longer periods of time as you get more comfortable.

Mindfulness can be a very beneficial tool as it promotes greater happiness, better adaptability, physical health and well-being. On World Listening Day, you can utilize the sounds of the earth to facilitate your practice of mindfulness. For more guidance on how to practice mindfulness, check out mindfulness.tools.