Mindfulness Challenge

There is a Vietnamese monk and Zen master named Thich Nhat Hanh who wrote an inspiring piece of work titled The Miracle of Mindfulness.

In his book Thich suggests that too many of us get to the end of a day with no memory of what we have done because while we were doing one thing we were thinking about something else.

As an example he challenges the reader to do dishes by doing dishes.  The challenge set here is... while washing dishes think about absolutely nothing except washing dishes for the entire time you are washing the dishes. Don't think about the meal you just finished of the meal you'll have next. Don't think about what you now need from the grocery store, don't think about sweeping the floor after you finish with the dishes. Think only about doing dishes

Sounds easy right?   I tried it and guess what... not so easy as it sounds.  Try it yourself and see what you think.

Once (if) you master the doing dishes thing, apply the principal to other things in your life.  When someone is taking to you, do nothing except listening to what they are saying.  Don't think of how you will respond, don't allow yourself to ponder a similar experience of your own.  Listen only to what the other person is saying.  You might be surprised by all that you hear.