From The Daily Dialogue
From The Daily Dialogue
Broadcast of 11/15/98
Subject: [DailyDialogue #317] One Thing at a Time
"A remarkable way to integrate meditation and awareness practice into our daily lives is to do one thing at a time. Relating wholly to the job at hand. Concentrating on a single task. When driving not listening to the radio. When listening to music not reading or eating. When eating not reading or watching television. When watching television, not eating or reading. When walking simply to feel the ground beneath your feet. To walk in a sacred manner. When eating to feel that which eats, entering directly the sensations and motivations that condition and direct the process. To be mindful of eating in the same way one is mindful of walking or breathing. To take one breath at a time, one step at a time, one bite at a time. To fully experience, "just this much," in the moment as it is."
-- Steven Levine, Guided Meditations, Explorations and Healing
The couple's dialogue may also be seen as a structure that encourages us to do one thing at a time. As a sender, I am encouraged to focus on speaking my thoughts and feelings. As a receiver, I am encouraged to temporarily put my own thoughts and feelings aside and focus on apprehending the speakers message as completely as I possibly can.
Experiment: Next time you enter into dialogue with your partner, set aside some time that is as free from distraction as possible. Eliminate the TV, the background music, the newspaper, your books, the internet and focus on each other.
Affirmation: Our practice of the dialogue is meditative and healing.
The Daily Dialogue is published each day of 1998 by e-mail. Copyright 1998, Eddy Brame and Marty Crouch, All rights reserved.
