April is the perfect month to focus on ‘The Art of Noticing’. This is about noticing the events and moments that impact your daily existence without you actually noticing them… some small and simple, others not…but when noticed create a wonderful tapestry of aliveness…(is that even a word?…but you get the gist of it right?) The things that when noticed serve to remind us that we are more than just our daily routines, schedules and actions… So much more.

In our noticing, we can see where there can be a sense of peace or simple Joy in the space between these interactions and of course in the interactions themselves. I suppose that you could say that the art of noticing is in fact a form of mindfulness.

In today’s world so many of us are focused on what we have to do, where we have to be and indeed how we have to be, that we often don’t allow ourselves to just be: we spend so much time waiting for the right time, or the ideal moment that we fail to notice the moments that are happening right in front of us with every breath.

Noticing doesn’t have to be profound. In fact, it’s often the little things that deliver that feel good factor… a bed made with freshly laundered sheets, the perfect shower or bath, a fragrance that you choose to wear that always makes you feel good.

Of course, noticing is not just about the feel-good moments; it’s also about the moments in our daily lives that lower our vibration through feelings like anger, envy, fear, shame, sadness etc…we are human and it’s normal to experience a range of feelings. When we notice our low vibration feelings, we are able to own them and ultimately reduce their power.

If you want to start noticing more here are some thoughts:journaling

  • Start your day with gratitude… whether you journal your gratitude or you meditate or you simply speak your gratitude… let it be known. Then tell yourself that you are going to ‘notice’.
  • Create a noticing notebook/ journal and commit to writing in it daily at a time that works for you: this allows you to witness just how much impacts you on a daily basis.
  • Engage the senses: listen to the sounds around you, notice any scents that evoke memories or emotions, feel the warmth of your cup of tea or the softness of a fabric, savour the taste of your food rather than eating on autopilot, look up from your screen and notice the world around you.

Start noticing the simple things that give you pleasure

  • Savour your morning tea or coffee preparation and the pleasure that you get from drinking it.
  • Notice the beauty of the trees and shrubs that are blossoming while you’re out and about…
  • Notice the conversations or Interactions that you’ve had that have lifted your spirits or made you laugh.
  • Dig out photos of people and places that you love and find ways to have them more visible: frame them and put them up in your living space, use them as screensavers on your phone.
  • Get your favourite books out and re read your fave chapters.

Notice the less pleasurable moments

  • If it’s a conversation or interaction that you’ve had – explore why it has triggered you: did it make you angry? Or anxious?
  • If you find yourself feeling envy or jealousy after an interaction: ask yourself why you feel that way. Maybe there’s something that you’d like to be doing differently in your life.

Some extra prompts…

  • Think about the last time that you felt truly comfortable and at ease.
  • What activities consistently bring you joy?
  • Who in your life makes you feel seen and heard?
  • What daily practices help you to feel grounded and centred?
  • What in your life creates stress or anxiety and what can you do to change it or reduce its impact?

By noticing, we empower ourselves. Ultimately noticing can support us to evolve, grow and make changes in our lives and it illuminates just how we alive we really are.

Article by Denise Rabor, founder of Wow Beauty