Sense of Place: How I Start My Day

 

Silent Meditation

Science often says the most important meal of the day is breakfast. While it is important to eat and get your body revved up for the day, it is equally important to get your mind to the same level. Every morning I get up 3 hours before I start my day. Often, I sit outside in silence. No phones and no distractions-- just my cup of coffee and the outside world.  This often helps me center my mind. In one of the readings in class, Nature Deficit Disorder; we learned the psychological term known as Directed Attention Fatigue. This is a scenario where the human brain is providing to much attention directed at a task. This often leads to irritability, lack of focus, agitation, and impulsive behavior. One of the ways I avoid directed attention fatigue is through silent meditation. 

 

Walking Meditation

Sometimes, even after breakfast and silent meditation, I am still a bit overwhelmed with all the tasks I have tallied up in my head to complete for the day. It is almost impossible to focus and get all of this done with the pressure to perform in the front of my mind. I have a treadmill on my patio. It faces towards my neighbor’s backyard. His garden is beautiful to look at while I walk at a quick pace. Not too fast, that I will wear myself out. But not to slow, that I can be distracted from decompressing. In class, we have a reading about Nature Deficit Disorder, which basically explains that there is a positive correlation between the human brains cognitive function and the nature of its environment. The soft breeze, low owl trills, and slow movements of the trees is captivating and ethereal. It in turn affects the way I feel inside.

Dialogue

Last, but not least, if my body and mind are relaxed, I feel like I can process and complete anything! There is a dialogue between myself and my environment. Sometimes, I give myself advice by reflecting on things I have pushed out of sight and out of mind but have slowly creeped up into anxiety. While a week ago, an issue that felt like it would destroy everything; that same scenario can be viewed now with a clear head and reach a conclusion. I often, realize my emotions and reactions are based on my perspective at the time. In one of the readings, Knowledge Extinction, we learned about Change Blindness. This is the idea that we often modify what we see. Sometimes it is intentional and sometimes it is not. This can be a positive or negative phenomenon. In the case of self-reflection and dialogue, it is positive. Being able to see a situation from another point of view with a clear mind and relaxed body, creates dialogue which can solve most issues.