Last week,  I wrote about mind/body/spirit integration.  Today, we’re going to talk about how you find time for it.  I find it kind of hilarious that it took me five days to find the time to write this post.

The 3 keys to mind-body-spirit integration are presence, contemplation and attunement.

How do we find time for this?

Seriously?  We are very busy people.   We are too busy to list all the ways we are busy!

The trick to mind/body/spirit integration is to find ways to fit in into your day.

Practicing Presence Every Day

Presence is an easy thing to practice when you’re cleaning your house or driving.  You just start small.

I like to practice presence when I dust, especially if I am dusting something with detail, like the keys of my piano.  There is presence and wisdom in feeling the keys, and watching the way the dust gets caught in the light.  When you are present to your cleaning, you may find it calming.

The more you do presence, the more you’ll crave it.  The more you crave it, the more you do it.  It’s a lovely thing to get wrapped up in.

Practicing Contemplation Every Day

I must say, the thing that has increased my peace and happiness more than anything is the act of contemplation.  I think I get this from my mom, who is a natural at contemplation, and who has always found time to sit and ponder.

The trick to contemplation is creating a space and planning ahead.  I have 3 kids, 3 dogs and 3 cats, and a partner.  Our house is less than 2000 square feet.  I understand, deeply, the lack of space and alone time.

When I get up early to sit zazen, to clear my mind and then to contemplate my day,  I have a quilt and corner in the living room that is just for me.  The pit bull takes my spot in bed.  The big black dog comes out and sits with me.  The cats go outside.   The corner is empty. The quilt goes down.  I sit for only 10-15 minutes. I breathe quietly and fully, clear my mind and think.

This morning, my contemplation was about mourning. I miss my horse. I’m reading “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion.  She talks about the un-rational thinking that comes with grief.  I know that my horse is not in this world anymore.  Yet, every day, I think, “Oh, I should go visit Ed.” and then I remember that he’s gone, and I feel a strange combination of relief and longing.  So, today, I sat and contemplated the feelings I have around Ed’s passing. And after thinking through things, I felt peace, warmth, a seated sense of knowing.

It can be helpful to think ahead of what you want to contemplate. Or you can just sit there and see what comes.

10-15 minutes. Plan ahead. Make a space.  Be there.

Making Time for Attunement

Remember the list of attunement activities?  Knitting, swimming, exercise, dancing?  What kind of sad lives are we living if we can’t carve out 15 minutes to dance?  Seriously? I don’t even know how to respond to this one.

I especially don’t know how to respond when people say, “Oh I don’t have time for yoga. Did you see the latest episode of Lost?”

They don’t need to watch the latest episode of lost, because if they aren’t integrating their mind, body and spirit, they’re living it.

You don’t have to do the things that take lots of time. I can’t go swimming in under two hours, so the days that I can’t swim, I dance. I knit. I bring my knitting with me, and take a few minutes while I’m waiting for my kid to finish his piano lessons or get out of school.

Be on the Lookout

Be on the lookout for times to practice presence, contemplation and attunement.  It doesn’t take a lot of time, and it can make a huge difference in the quality of your life.