Basic Mindfulness Skills 71Exercise: Inner-Outer Experience
Now that you’ve practiced being mindful of both an object outside of yourself and your internal
physical sensations, the next step is to combine the two experiences. This is the first exercise that
will teach you how to recognize and focus on your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.
This will be done by teaching you to shift your attention back and forth in a mindful, focused
way between what you are experiencing internally, such as your physical sensations and thoughts,
and what you are experiencing externally, such as what you notice using your eyes, ears, nose, and
sense of touch.
Read the instructions before beginning the exercise to familiarize yourself with the experi-
ence. Then you can either keep these instructions near you if you need to refer to them while
you’re doing the exercise, or you can record them in a slow, even voice on an audio-recording
device so that you can listen to them while you practice shifting your focus between your internal
and external awareness.
Instructions
To begin, find a comfortable place to sit in a room where you won’t be disturbed for ten minutes.
Turn off any distracting sounds. Take a few slow, long breaths and relax.
Now, keeping your eyes open, focus your attention on an object in the room. Notice what the object
looks like. Notice its shape and color. Imagine what that object would feel like if you could hold it. Imagine
what the object must weigh. Describe the object silently to yourself, being as descriptive as possible. Take a
minute to do this. Keep breathing. If your focus begins to drift, simply return your attention to the exercise
without criticizing yourself. [Pause here for one minute if you are recording the instructions.]
When you have finished describing the object, return your focus to your body. Notice any physi-
cal sensations that you might be experiencing. Scan your body from your head to your feet. Notice any
muscle tension you might be holding, any tingling you might be experiencing, or any other sensations of
which you are aware. Take a minute to do this, and keep breathing slow, deep breaths. [Pause here for
one minute if you are recording the instructions.]
Now redirect your attention to your sense of hearing. Notice any sounds that you can hear. Notice
sounds you hear coming from outside your room and note to yourself what they are. Now become aware
of any sounds you hear coming from inside the room and note to yourself what they are. Try to notice
even small sounds, such as the ticking of a clock, the sound of the wind, or the beating of your heart. If
you become distracted by any thoughts, return your focus to your sense of hearing. Take a minute to do
this, and keep breathing. [Pause here for one minute if you are recording the instructions.]
When you have finished listening to the sounds that you can notice, return your focus to your
body. Again, notice any physical sensations. Become aware of the weight of your body resting in the
chair. Notice the weight of your feet resting on the floor. Notice the weight of your head resting on top of
your neck. Notice in general how your body feels. If you become distracted by your thoughts, just notice
what they are and refocus your attention as best you can on your physical sensations. Take a minute to