Using Our Eyes Mindfully in Daily Life Situations

Our eyes are a wonderful resource for mindfulness practice. Every moment of the day we have the possibility to use them for practicing. This morning I took a train from Glasgow Central Station to Edinburgh Haymarket. I wrote down examples of what my eyes could pick up on the journey.

If you would like to practice using your eyes mindfully, you can try labelling objects, colours and shapes without adding a positive or negative interpretation of what your eyes are taking in. Any journey from A to B is a wonderful practice opportunity, e.g. taking the bus, train or walking to work in the morning. You could also practice whilst waiting in a bus station, a park, a cafe etc. As long as there is a source of light, there are no limits to practicing the mindful use of your eyes.

Here are some examples of what I saw this morning on my short train journey:

• A magpie gliding between the power lines
• Dew sparkling on the grass
• Sun reflecting off the white bark of birches lining the track
• Frost on leaves lying in a shady spot on the platform
• Four Boys playing football
• The sun shining through the fence, creating a stripy pattern on the platform
• An abundance of fluffy white willowherb seeds lining the track
• The salt which had been spread on the platform sparkling in the sunshine
• A flock of pigeons lifting off a field
• Eight hooded crows gathered in a field
• The reflection of light on a empty golden can of juice on the track
• Round seedheads of ivy, resembling an audience watching the train go by
• Two ponies with thick amber coloured coats grazing
• The changing shapes created by powerlines as the train passes them by
• Interesting patterns created by the light on a womans face, looking at her laptop
• Sycamore leaves on branches swaying in the wind on the platform, as if they are waving passengers of

Making mindful use of our eyes can add much interest to situations we might label as ‘boring’. It can give us fresh energy, a sense of calm and an appreciation for being alive.

And it’s good fun!

WHAT CAN YOU SEE TODAY?