Oct 1, 2026 · 7 min · 5 segments
Contemplative Practice for Soulful Living
And when you're ready, allow your gaze to wander a little bit, to fall or to float from object to object, wherever they seem to want to go.
And as best you can, avoid immediately labeling the thing you're seeing.
So, if your eyes fall upon a coffee cup, resist the temptation to say coffee cup in your mind, even though me doing so in your ears hasn't helped that.
But it's just an example.
Simply look at the cup without naming it, or let the name come and then go.
But stay with it, and notice.
Notice the contours of the curves, the color of the liquid within, maybe the steam that's rising up.
Notice the way it sits upon a table, how the lines come together, curves and straight ones, and so on and so on, for every object on which your eyes land.
The goal is not that this feels like some assignment or inventory.
Rather, think of it as wandering around.
Browsing, if you will.
Letting the attention draw you.
And it should be a fairly enjoyable practice.
One where you get to notice and appreciate even the smallest of details, whether it's something small you're looking at or a grand vista.
And perhaps you'll notice and enjoy, rather than just classifying the things you're seeing and moving on to the next.
Maybe you see the tiny lines on your watch band and start to recognize the miracle that it is, and how they got there, and what function they perform.
Or maybe the hairs on your arm that supports the watch, or the pores on your hands, hands that have done so much, touched so many.
Now, I'm describing these observations, but you don't have to go to that verbal step.
In fact, perhaps it's better if you do not.
No need to analyze or describe.
Just stay with the noticing.
Stay with the noticing and don't even force the appreciating.
It will seep in.
And that will make it far more joyful.
Now, as you go, and of course you should go at your pace, stay with any one object as long as you feel so led.
And when you're ready, allow your gaze to wander a little bit, to fall or to float from object to object, wherever they seem to want to go.
And as best you can, avoid immediately labeling the thing you're seeing.
So, if your eyes fall upon a coffee cup, resist the temptation to say coffee cup in your mind, even though me doing so in your ears hasn't helped that.
But it's just an example.
Simply look at the cup without naming it, or let the name come and then go.
But stay with it, and notice.
Notice the contours of the curves, the color of the liquid within, maybe the steam that's rising up.
Notice the way it sits upon a table, how the lines come together, curves and straight ones, and so on and so on, for every object on which your eyes land.
The goal is not that this feels like some assignment or inventory.
Rather, think of it as wandering around.
Browsing, if you will.
Letting the attention draw you.
And it should be a fairly enjoyable practice.
One where you get to notice and appreciate even the smallest of details, whether it's something small you're looking at or a grand vista.
And perhaps you'll notice and enjoy, rather than just classifying the things you're seeing and moving on to the next.
Maybe you see the tiny lines on your watch band and start to recognize the miracle that it is, and how they got there, and what function they perform.
Or maybe the hairs on your arm that supports the watch, or the pores on your hands, hands that have done so much, touched so many.
Now, I'm describing these observations, but you don't have to go to that verbal step.
In fact, perhaps it's better if you do not.
No need to analyze or describe.
Just stay with the noticing.
Stay with the noticing and don't even force the appreciating.
It will seep in.
And that will make it far more joyful.
Now, as you go, and of course you should go at your pace, stay with any one object as long as you feel so led.
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