Ways to practice attention include meditation, mindfulness, gathas, concentration exercises, walking meditation, descriptive writing, contemplative art, self-witnessing, and the specific spiritual practices below.
Acknowledge People Who Serve You by Alan Epstein encourages heightened awareness, acknowledgement, and appreciation of all the people you encounter who provide you support and service.
Choosing Where to Focus Attention by Susyn Reeve reminds you to cultivate your own happiness by focusing your attention on the things that elicit smiles and joy.
Daily Awards for Good by Drew Leder suggests staying alert to your accomplishments, those of others, and special graces.
Focusing Your Attention in Prayer by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat inspires bringing a focused mind and intention to religious practices.
Grow in Resilience by Stephanie Dowrick points your attention to the strengths and values you need for moving forward.
Gym Meditation by Eric Harrison encourages body mindfulness – letting your body decide when to stop and start, and how much to do when you exercise.
Healthy Heart by Andrew Weil offers a meditation for noticing what sensations, experiences, sounds, colors, fragrances, and textures are in your heart, as well as tips to improve your focusing techniques.
Meditation for the Body by Mary Earle works with the Psalms verse "I will thank you because I am marvelously made" to guide your awareness and attention to a particular part of your body.
Meditation on Positive Emotions by Sharon Salzberg adds to your resources for joy by helping you pay more attention to pleasurable experiences that carry happiness, comfort, contentment, or gratitude.
Mindfulness Breathing by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat recommends a strategy for focused awareness and mindfulness of your breath, body, and thoughts for your meditation and other settings.
Mind Your Money by Raphael Cushnir asks for only a few rubber bands to grow your awareness of the connection between your values and purchasing choices.
Ringing a Bell by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat provides a simple ritual for shifting your attention in your daily routine.
Running Meditation by Roger Joslin infuses holy awareness into every phase of your run, from mindfully dressing and warming up to changing clothes afterwards.
The Sky Gazing Meditation by Donald Altman provides a meditation for growing our awareness of and connection to nature.
Tips for Mindful Eating by Jan Chozen Bays offers wise advice to bring focused attention to the needs of our bodies and hearts as we eat.
Walking Down the Street by Pragito Dove directs our attention inward – to the activity of our own bodies and minds – when we’re walking.
Walking on the Stairs by Thich Nhat Hanh advises signing a respectful agreement with the steps you use most often to help you bring mindfulness to every step and every moment.
Washing the Dishes and Clothes by Thich Nhat Hanh slows you down by allowing you to focus on a single dish or article of laundry.
- More Spiritual Practices about Attention