Turning Dish Washing into a Contemplative Experience

Turning Dish Washing into a Contemplative Experience

Just last night, staring at a sink full of dirty dishes, I realized I have gotten completely lost amidst the clutter and chaos. As I’m on a self-imposed break (for the most part), I’ve been lagging behind usual chores, one of which includes keeping the kitchen squeaky clean! And I normally LOVE a squeaky clean kitchen. So this is just out of hand and out of character.

When we’re faced with such mountings piles of chaos, it’s natural to feel a sense of dread and anxiety, and we often react in a couple of ways:

1. We freeze in place, unable to deal with the mess at hand, allowing it to escalate further, becoming more and more sluggish to complete the task.

2. We dive headfirst doing everything at once, feeling scattered, and making the day even more tiring and chaotic.

Sound similar? You’ll notice that neither response is particularly helpful. It certainly doesn’t make the experience of washing dishes joyful or meaningful. And it soon becomes clear that the way we relate to a daunting task like this is the way we relate to many other aspects of our lives.

But what if there’s another way? What if even washing dishes could turn into a contemplative practice enriching your daily life?

Let’s see how.

The Meditative Practice of Washing Dishes

Thinking of dishwashing as a mindfulness practice can completely change your relationship to it. Instead of an anxiety-inducing chore that needs to be done to maintain cleanliness, it becomes a gateway to personal growth and exploration. Sounds fancy, but it’s really not. It can be summed up as ‘Turning Chaos into Order’

When we talk about mindfulness practice, we’re speaking of activities with expansive potential that enlighten us at a profound, meaningful level.

Some areas to reflect upon:

1. Could you find happiness in washing the dishes, turning a typically burdensome task into a source of joy and peace?

2. Could you address the apprehension that makes you shy away from the task at hand, then breathe and slowly work through each dish?

3. Could you turn each dish into a calming instance of introspection, connection with the self, curiosity, or even love?

4. Could you learn to find moments of calm and mindfulness while engaging in this mundane task?

There’s no definitive way to meditate. These tips are starting points; you may explore your own unique path. The ultimate goal is to elevate an otherwise mundane task into a more enriching experience. Dish Washing Mindfulness Practice

Firstly, do not be overwhelmed by the stack of dishes. Divide the task into several passes:

1. First pass: Collect all the dishes, cutlery, and pans, rinsing off easy grime and food remnants. This is akin to deleting spam emails – effortless, requires little thinking, and feels satisfying.

2. Second pass: Now clean the dishes that just need a quick scrub. Much like responding to less demanding emails, this might take around 5-10 minutes.

3. Third pass: What remains are the dishes requiring more attention – greasy pans, burnt pots, and so on. Dedicate specific time to these, much like working on lengthier emails or tasks. Tackle each dish with focused attention.

Although you might not finish all dishes in one go, the progress you make will truly be satisfying. And doing this each day keeps the kitchen in check while also imparting a sense of calm. Embracing the Practice

Acting on the above tips will undoubtedly improve your dishwashing experience. But the transformative benefit comes from integrating mindfulness into this chore. Here’s what I propose:

1. Begin with a purposeful intention. A sticky note reminder by the sink can help. Move past the basic intention to merely ‘clean the dishes.’ Make it more expansive, aligned with the mindfulness practice areas above.

2. In the first pass, revel in the joy of simplification and de-cluttering each dish.

3. During the second pass, trust your instincts and find satisfaction in quick wins, as you complete easy, less time-consuming dishes.

4. The third pass might elicit resistance and mild stress. Learn to acknowledge these feelings, stay with the experience, and find a rhythm amidst the labor. Give your mindful focus to this chore and find your quiet center.

5. Finally, recognize any small progress you’ve made and congratulate yourself. This fosters both a disciplined approach and encourages a mindfulness practice.

The key takeaway here is openness, fully embracing the task rather than dreading it.

Imagine, if we could transform this simple daily chore into something deeper, spiritual even? Now, that’s food for thought.

Applying Mindfulness to My Routine

As I began my journey towards integrating mindfulness into my life, dishwashing emerged as the most suitable activity. It was something I did every day, but it was also a task that triggered anxiety and a sense of burden in me. ~AAAHHH. LOOK at that GIANT pile of stuff~

Here’s how I transformed it into a sacred ceremony of sorts.

Firstly, I removed any expectation of speed or perfection. As I filled the sink with warm water and strewn dishes, I entirely devoted myself to the task at hand, letting go of the urgency to finish immediately. Instead, I dedicated different ‘passes’ to the task as discussed earlier, injecting structure and eliminating overwhelm.

Before diving in, I would stand silently for a moment, resting my hand on the edge of the sink. John Kabat-Zinn, American professor and mindfulness expert, once said,

As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than wrong, no matter what is wrong.

Inspired by this, I exercised deep, conscious breaths, setting a personal intention for the entire task (think breath work). It was to bring a sense of calm and unity to myself, rendering dishwashing as a symbol of healing.

In the first phase, with each dish rinsed, I envisioned clearing out unnecessary clutter from my mind. It became a symbolic purge of stress and worry, just washing those negative feelings away with the food leftovers and grime.

During the second pass, these were my ‘quick win’ moments. I focused on the touch of warm water, the sparkle on clean silverware, the soap suds - these details became my small anchors of joy, my respite from chaos.

Finally, tackling the most challenging dishes brought out resistance within me. It was uncomfortable at first, but then it turned into an opportunity for growth. As I scrubbed the burnt pot bottom, it was as if I was acknowledging and simultaneously working through the angst and pain within me. I surrendered to the experience, embracing the difficulty and finding my quiet center despite it.

It did not matter that I didn’t manage to clean everything at once. The process had become much more important than the outcome. Each day, as I stood before the sink, it was not just about cleaning dishes; it was about mindfulness, personal growth, contemplation, and most importantly, self-love.

This practice fostered a tremendous sense of gratitude within me. What used to be a source of dread was now my private sanctuary of tranquillity. Washing dishes wasn’t just ‘washing dishes’ anymore - it was my spiritual sublimation, my journey from mundane to mindfully magical.

Of course, I will buy a dishwasher at first opportunity. I just don’t have space for it now.