Punching Bag

Punching Bag

Let your eyes close. I am going to say a series of words describing different feelings or emotions that you may have had. As I say each word, simply silently acknowledge to yourself whether or not you have experienced it.

Happy
Sad
Excited
Anxious
Restless
Eager
Weak
Depressed
Worried
Lonely
Envious
Jealous
Angry
Hateful

Joyful
Peaceful
Doubtful
Curious
Alone
Mischievous
Grateful

Frightened
Bored
Strong
Serious
Special
Disappointed
Loving

Mindfulness teaches us how to notice when we are experiencing these emotions and feelings, to stop and watch how they feel in our mind and our body, and to react differently than we may have in the past.

Did you ever play with those blow-up punching bags that have sand in the bottom and sit on the ground? When you punch them they fall all the way down to the ground and then pop back up and wobble back and forth for a long time until finally they become still again. Well, the mind is like this when we are hit with a very strong emotion.

Can you think of a time when you have felt an emotion very strongly and you felt “knocked to the ground”. It may have taken you days before you finally didn’t feel that anymore and that you felt “balanced and still” again.

When we develop mindfulness, that punching bag gets hit, but it no longer gets hit to the ground. It is stronger and it only gets pushed a little off to the left or right. And, because it hasn’t fallen so far, it comes back to the center more quickly.

When we practice awareness, or mindfulness, we are teaching ourselves to have better balance and to not fall down so far from a strong emotion or feeling. 

Source: MindfulSchools
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