Going away to the monastic retreat this year for a week helped me to get clear on my values. I was grateful for the Nan Tien Tempe to offer me the opportunity to learn to be a better version of myself, so that I could contribute to help others through my art.

When you slow down to regroup, you being to focus on the small but important things in life.

I remember when I started to do this when I was a child. It was very easy back then, no responsibility and time seemed endless, so I approached art as something that gave me pleasure and developed my patience.

Fast forward to today and I found that the things we lack is actually appreciation in our everyday lives. I appreciate the objects, people and places I paint now.

When we appreciate our moments, we are present in them.

This means we can take on board all our senses. To see, touch, feel, taste and sniff all the things that make us conscious. We can then read our emotions and act accordingly. I tap into this when I paint. Being present with your mind and body plays an important role in the way we conduct ourselves towards others.

One way to do this is to meditate.

Now you’re probably picturing the sitting buddha clique, so get that out of your head. No, its about your body and your present-less thoughts. Yeah... try not to think. How can you do that? Well, focus on what your body is doing.

Breathing meditation

Monitor how you are breathing, is it calm? Feel your chest cavity expand and release gradually. Ribs stretching and flexing one by one. Take a deep breath, then slow it down enough for you to get a nice dose of the air you need.

You might even notice pressure in your lungs, shoulders, neck, head... even a better posture in your spine on the breathe in. Do this at least 5 times... even better if its 10.

Close your eyes meditation

Sitting in a chair or on the floor crosslegged, close your eyes and hear the sounds around you. Let them come and go, don’t focus on anything in particular. Feel your body’s heart beat and blood flowing down and up into your arms and legs and back again.

Keep breathing. Do this for 5 minutes. Set a timer on your phone so you don’t check constantly. You’ll be amazed how long it will feel.

Food meditation!

While eating, appreciate the food. Where it came from, the taste, the texture, the effort it took to prepare it, its origin and travels before it came sustenance for you. Don’t watch or listen to any technology, just eat slowly in silence.

Water meditation

In the bath, shower, sea or pool, feel the water on your skin. Listen to the sounds of the splashes. Watch how the water moves. This is even better floating in the ocean (preferably away from waves) with your ears under, face up to the sky eyes closed. You can practice breathing meditation also, observing the rise and fall of your chest and your floating level.

Do you notice that afterwards you feel refreshed and a bit clearer?

This can make you feel appreciation for the small things and adds value to yourself a bit more then a moment ago.