Do you know that mindfulness is a wonderful tool for stress reduction, and that you can do it any time, any place? You may even wonder what it is all about. It is about being present and in the moment. For when you are truly in the moment, there is no room for you to beat yourself up for what you should or shouldn’t do. You aren’t anxious or fearful because those things occur in the present or the future. It is about being aware of all 5 senses at this point in time and not judging what comes up, but being aware of it. There is no wrong or right way to do this. Each persons experience is different.

A rainstorm may not be something you consider when it comes to mindfulness training, but if it’s a rainy day, why not try it? You can do this with a soft gentle rain or even a raging storm. Perhaps you would like to stand out in the rain and do this. If it were lightning, I’d recommend you do it where you can be safe.

Start your mindfulness with your sense of hearing

Listen to all the sounds. What do you hear? Do you hear the roar of thunder, or perhaps a gently rumble. Can you hear the wind blowing, or perhaps the trees and leaves shaking. Do you hear anything rattling around? What about the drops of water as they hit different surfaces?

Then move to taste

Can you taste anything? Is there salt in the air or anything else? Perhaps you have gum or a mint in your mouth.

Smell

What about sense of smell? Can you smell the rain? It has a distinct smell that is hard to describe. Are there any flowers nearby that are giving off a scent while in the rain? Perhaps the wet grass has a smell.

Touch

What about touch? Can you feel the rain on your body? Do you notice any temperature differences? Did the air become cooler? Can you feel the gentle breeze or the gust of wind on your body? How does the rain feel? Is it cool on your skin? Does it feel refreshing, or are you cold? Feel yourself be a part of the experience.

Sight

What do you see? Can you see the raindrops in puddles? Are there rings that keep spreading as the drops hit them? Or can you see the wind blowing across the puddles? What does the sky look like? Is it solid grey? Perhaps there are just a few clouds in the sky and there are parts of blue sky or sunshine. Are there different shades of grey in the sky? Can you make out the different clouds? Are they moving? Are they going slow or fast? What is the pace of the rain? Is it pouring, medium rain, gentle rain or little mist? Is it picking up and slowing down? If it has stopped raining, what does the sky look like?

Can you see the drops of rain glistening on the grass? What about other objects outside? Do you have a fence, patio table or potted plants? Notice the rain drops on these items. Is there any lightning? Is it lighting up the whole sky, or are there lighting bolts cracking across the sky? Notice how the rain splatters. Watch it drip from the rooftop or eaves. Notice the sounds they make as they hit the ground. Where are you watching the storm? Are you inside or out on a patio? Are you standing or sitting? Notice the floor against your feet or the feel of the bench/chair against your back.

Did you ever realize there was so much to consider when practicing mindfulness? There are so many things to be aware of. When doing so, you can appreciate the beauty or simplicity of so many things. While you are paying attention to them, there isn’t time for worry. If you’d like more information on mindfulness, click here https://debbiegrammas.com/blog/mindfulness-meditation-in-your-back-yard/

I hope you found this to be helpful. If stress or anxiety is something you struggle with, please give me a call at 713-304-6554 and I can teach you many tools to help reduce it.

Take care,

Debbie Grammas, PhD