Leaves on a Stream (Mini Mindfulness Practice)

Start by taking some deep breaths
Relaxing your body sitting comfortably
Now visualising that you're sitting
on the bank of a gently flowing creek
Hearing the trickling sounds of the
water as it cascades over the rocks
Effortlessly making it's way on it's journey
Noticing any thoughts that are trying
to hook you in trying to distract you
Bringing yourself back to the creek back to observing
You notice next to you is a small pile of autumn leaves
Pick up one of the leaves and hold it out in front of you
Next time you notice a thought hooking you in
Just place that thought on a leaf and
send that leaf sailing down the stream
Just visualise or imagine whatever works for you
Watching the leaves as they drift away
And bringing your attention back to
observing the water endlessly drifting along
No need to worry about anything just effortlessly observing the creek
As you notice thoughts pop into your mind notice the
temptation to buy into them and get caught up in them
Instead softly stay in that place of observation and
place the thought on a leaf and send it sailing away
Now it is time to observe your thoughts not to engage with them
And there may be an endless supply of thoughts
That's okay
The leaves are neverending so every time you notice another thought
just placing it on another leaf and
watching it drift away out of sight
Again and again bringing yourself back to
the stream and the sound of the trickling water
As you watch the stream you also allow yourself to watch your
mind and choose to observe your thoughts rather than becoming them
As any memories judgement worries or ideas flow into your mind as
they will just place each one on a
new leaf with love and let it drift away
By observing your thoughts you become pure awareness
By letting go of the struggling with your thoughts you become peaceful
Letting go of any judgement when
thoughts arrive to distract you from your focus
This is the way of your mind it cannot be controlled
By simply allowing the thoughts to come and go you become a master
Even if you are constantly sending thought after thought off
down the stream you are perfecting the art of observing and allowing
Allowing your thoughts to drift in and out letting them
come in placing them of a leaf and letting them drift on by
Peacefully observing
And gently bringing your attention back to your breathing focusing on
your breath becoming aware of your surroundings
opening your eyes and moving your body when you're ready
Bringing yourself back to this practice when you find the time