A Simple Technique To Take Mindfulness To A New Level — Here’s How To Do It

Then it happened. I was practicing mindfulness on a 2-hour drive to the beach. I listened to my favorite music in the background when I felt an expansive wave of energy flow into my being. There were waves of pleasure flowing through me. I felt like I was in a bubble, yet I was keenly aware of my thoughts, feelings, the car, and the scenery whizzing by me. It felt like I was suddenly plugged into an endless bank of knowledge. I began to understand questions about spirituality and life I had always wondered about.

I realized I had entered a state of complete self-presence, but I lost it after 20 minutes or so.

The heightened state of awareness I was in began to fade away. I asked myself, “how can I enter this state again and maintain it longer”? A memory about a technique I had received from one of my teachers many years ago came to my awareness. They called it the big toe exercise. It was an exercise to help you develop the ability to sense energy.

It was simple. Focus on your Big Toe and nothing else. After a minute of focusing, sense how it feels. After a minute, you will sense it expand beyond the skin. You may feel it get warmer. Sometimes it feels like the space around your toe is moving. What are you sensing? You are **sensing the energy** of your big toe.

The eternal Self that we are is energy, and by sensing its energy, we sense its presence.

In addition to the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, we have another unique sense. English lacks a good word for this sense. It is through this sense that we can perceive energy. Through practice, you can develop the ability to perceive different energy sensations.

“The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn

Here’s how you can develop your ability to perceive energy.

Different types of energy have unique sensations. Have you ever had a sense that a person isn’t being truthful to you? It is a unique, identifiable energy sensation. When there is about to be a change, sometimes you will hear someone say, ‘I have a sense things are changing.’ What sense are they using when they perceive that a change is in the air beyond their physical senses? More times than not, they perceive a change in energy by using a sense they have no word for but sense it nonetheless.

“We’re all energetic beings. We sense energy and respond to it.” ~Debra Joy

The bigger Self that you are has a unique energy sensation. This Self is called many things — True Self, Authentic Self, Higher Self, and it is this Self that becomes present during deep mindfulness. You access it by focusing on its energy sensation.

“Be where you are; otherwise, you will miss your life.” ~ Buddha

Through sensing the energy signature of the Self, its presence grows, and self-presence moves you into a new level of consciousness. As you develop the ability to sense energy and tune into your Self, the state of mindfulness grows deeper. It is at this place that self-transformation speeds up. Then, hang on to your hat!