Mind Labeling Experience
For the first ten minutes write down what you are experiencing right now using the word “I”.
Get right to the point, no past or future fantasy, just a plain description of your experience right here and now.
Post this list here:
I am sitting on a small stool
I am holding a pen in my hand
I am feeling the temperature and texture of the pen
I am using the pen to write words into a booklet
I am writing on lines drawn on the pages of the booklet
I am aware that my face is hot
I am hearing a clock ticking
I am thinking about the zoom meeting later on
I am feeling sensations in my shoulders
I am looking at the words forming on the page
I am sensing a shift in the feelings in the back and head
I am hearing the dog licking his paws
I am looking at the dog in his bed beside me
I am smiling and feeling my facial muscles relax
I am sensing a lock of my hair touching my cheek
I am aware of the sensations of the skin on my cheek
I am looking at the cup of tea
I am thinking it might go cold
I am lifting the cup
I am opening my moth
I am feeling the warmth of the tea inside my mouth#I am tasting the tea
I am aware of sensations in the body as the tea is swallowed
I am looking at the clock
I am aware of the left hand holding the booklet
I am aware of the hand holding the pen
I am feeling subtle sensations in the hand
I am feeling subtle sensations in the body with each breath
Then for the next ten minutes continue writing down what you are experiencing but this time without using the word “I”. Just describe the experience as it is happening using verbs.
Post this list, too
drinking the tea
hearing the dog snoring
hearing the clock
noticing sensations at the back of the skull
feeling the fingers on the keyboard
noticing sensations in the stomach
listening to the space between the clock ticks
hearing the wind outside
feeling sensations in the leg that is folded
feeling sensations of the side of the foot on the floor
hearing the gentle whirr of the computer
sensing the breath at the nostrils
sensing the tongue resting on the floor of the mouth
feeling the area around the eyes
seeing the colours in the mouse mat
seeing the shape of the mouse
feeling a sensation in the left temple- labelled itch
noticing the rush of blood around the body
hearing the inner sound of blood rushing by the ears
hearing the ping of the phone
feeling sensations at the back of the neck
noticing a smile appearing on the face
taking a deep breath
feeling the body relax
At the end of the twenty minutes compare the two ways in which the experience was labelled and answer the following four questions:
1. Is one truer than the other, and If so, which one?
Both seem fairly true but the second more so
2. What is here without labels?
Just the sensing, seeing, touching etc the experience
3. Do labels affect the experience or just describe it?
Just describe it
4. Did you notice any differences in the body? Describe this.
I feel the body as more spacious and as a means of experiencing whatever is to be experienced
Be relaxed, have fun and take your time. Looking forward to your replies.
Thank you for this exercise Machiel and thank you for your time.
Philomena