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My Experiments With Mindful Walking
Slowing down helped me become even more keenly aware of myself and my surroundings
I subscribe to a weekly newsletter from the Greater Good Science Center, Berkeley. It’s an informative and inspiring read which usually has some useful tips that I feel like trying. Last week, on a lark, I signed up for an experiment with the intriguing title of “Pathway to Happiness”.
Given my current effort to not increase the load on my slowly recovering-from-burnout body, I should not have done it. But the premise of the experiment was interesting. Once I signed up and filled out relevant information in the survey. I would receive a customized path to happiness — one practice to try each week and fill out a response form when done. At the end of a month, I would have tried four ways to enhance my wellbeing. Sounds easy, right? Not surprisingly, I signed up without a doubt. Until the first email arrived.
The difficulty of walking mindfully
My first assignment was to do a walking meditation. The instructions were simple.
- Set a timer for 10 mins
- Find a place where I could walk 10–15 paces without being disturbed or interrupted
- Walk slowly, literally putting one foot in…
