There is no way to shift your stagnant emotional or energetic state as simply or directly as MOTION.

Recently, I had a profound experience on a BLAH overcast, damp, cold winter day. I could not get myself out of the funk I was feeling. I was in a fog and completely stuck. While I was just sitting around waiting for something to shift, I did not like where my emotion or energy level was resting. Then it hit me! If “emotion is energy motion”, then I needed motion.

Taking action, I drove to a local trail and mentally committed to walk a mile loop all the while being present to all I could collect from each of my senses. The following is what I mentally collected and recorded during my mindful mile walk.

• The sound of sonic soaring airplane passing overhead.
• Swishing of the wind through the trees, swaying of these bare giants as if they were dancing in unison.
• The sight of the whitest of white surrounding me.
• The sight of charred looking leaves clinging from the branches of the fallen tree.
• The fallen snow, collected on branches like intricate lace.
• The cold odorless air, clean, and crisp, wafting through my nostrils.
• The moisture on my eyelashes freezing and fusing top and bottom with each blink.
• The slight burn in my lungs as I breathed in deeply the icy moist air.
• My dry tongue seemingly numb to any taste.
• Moisture running from my nose down the cleft of my upper lip and finally reaching the tip of my tongue, a burst of saltiness as it collects there.
• The ends of my hair over my eyes tickling my nose with each step.
• The sense of each muscle relaxing and all tightness that has existed disappearing.

This was my mindful mile. It transformed me and I felt my mood lifting. Possibilities were being created. The only question that came to mind was why I waited so long to take this walk! The bottom line is this: when stuck emotionally, creatively, or energetically, try motion and make it mindful!

Photo Credit: Dr. Hillman, University of Illinois