Catching peace

It really is a game of catch, isn't it? Amidst the frantic events of everyday life, we are grateful to catch a few silent moments with a coffee in the sun, or a blank stare at the bathroom tiles whilst sitting on the toilet at work.

However, I suspect the reality is that many are struggling to find any real peace at all. Silence, maybe, but peace holds a whole different meaning. In the Tao Te Ching - an ancient Chinese book on being (the indescribable essence and source of all life) - Tao is described as "infinite, eternally present". This essentially distills the practice of meditation; the practice of simply allowing ourselves to be in the moment, without projecting thoughts or emotions onto it.

How many of us can truly say that we are living in this isolation without any thoughts of anxiety, frustration or fear at least some of the time? Pottering around the house, scrolling on social media and interacting with people still bring about thoughts and emotions. In fact, the lack of external distractions once manifested in schedules, events and errands may leave us forced to sit with thoughts and emotions we didn't realise were there before.

Our inner world has been amplified now that the outer world has been significantly dialled down.

In order to remedy what can feel like an overwhelming amount of inner noise, I invite you to strip back all of those layers of life you have made for yourself. Just for now, notice your feet.

Yep, that's all. Notice your feet right now.

Can you feel the energy in them? Perhaps you may become aware of blood flow, their weight on the floor or even discomfort of some sort. Whatever you feel, don't try to change it, just take note and be inquisitive.

Now follow the next three breathes you take and notice these too - the feeling of the air in the back of your throat, and the warmth in your nostrils on the exhale. Notice your lungs and the rise and fall of your chest and tummy.

This is you being present and holding awareness in what you are experiencing without the need to control, understand or project emotions onto it. In this state, everything simply is.

When we detach from the noise of our minds even for a moment here, we catch a little bead of peace, the sweet sanctuary that reminds us our minds don't always serve us for the better.

You can practice this with any part of your body - all of it if you want to - whenever you notice you are caught up in inner dis-ease, or just feeling the need to catch some peace.