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As evidence, while casually strolling along the busy sidewalk on a trip to London (my first), I was surprised to look down at nearly every street crossing and see painted in very large letters the words, LOOK RIGHT. It became instantly clear that looking to the right before stepping off of the curb was a wise practice in the UK because that is the direction from which the cars and buses (really big buses) come roaring by.

Living in the U.S., where people drive on the “right” side of the road, this practice took some time to master because I was accustomed to looking to the left for oncoming traffic before crossing the street.

I had an instant flashback to my childhood and the mantra that many of our parents gave us at an early age: “Always stop...look...and listen before crossing the street.” I was grateful for the warning signs painted on the sidewalk; they were propitious and timely reminders to pay attention to the moment and what I was doing because if I didn’t there could be dire consequences. Taking that intentional pause was literally a life saver on that trip.

As children, the admonition to “stop, look and listen” may have been our first introduction to the ancient practice of mindfulness which, according to author Jon Kabat-Zinn means, “Paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment non-judgmentally.”

While mindfulness has been practiced as a discipline in various spiritual teachings for millennia, it is only in the past few years that it has become more mainstream in the corporate and medical world.

Why? Because it increases one’s ability to pay attention to the moment at hand in a manner that lowers stress levels which, in turn, serves to increase one’s productivity in the workplace and healing and sustained wellbeing in the patient.

It’s quite amazing how often our mind splinters itself and habitually rides off in multiple directions at the same time, failing to pay attention to what’s happening in the present moment. In the process it’s quite easy to get, metaphorically, broadsided by something we don’t see coming.

The Wisdom of Stop, Look & Listen Is Universally Applicable

For many of us, over the years, the practice of mindfully stopping, looking and listening has subtlety faded into the recesses of our habit mind only to be unconsciously resurrected through “survival mode” with something like crossing the street.

The good news is the conscious practice of taking time to mindfully stop, look and listen is something that can be integrated into every area of our lives and it will not only help us survive, but thrive far beyond what we may currently think is possible. As an example, when we approach a crosswalk on a busy intersection, we most likely stop, look, and listen before we step into the street.

However, when confronted with a perplexing problem or sudden emergency, do we, likewise, take time to intentionally stop, look, and listen, before we act or react? When we have a difficult choice or decision to make, do we stop, look, and listen before we choose? When we are in a conversation with others, do we stop, look, and listen before we speak? When we receive a diagnosis or prognosis from our doctor, do we stop, look, and listen before buying into it? When we are challenged by another person’s criticism or opinion of us, do we stop, look, and listen before we react? When we lay down to sleep at night, do we stop, look, and listen before we drift off? Clearly the list could go on.

Perhaps the deeper question is, when we initiate the mindfulness practice of “Stop, Look, and Listen” what are we stopping for--what are we looking for--and what are we listening for?

As we spiritualize the above question, the answer becomes obvious and delightfully simple: God’s presence; we are “paying attention” in a particular way, purposefully, in the present moment, non-judgmentally, to experience the presence of the One. We are creating an intentional sacred gap -- a moment in time and space -- to realize our oneness with God’s Omnipresence (Presence), Omnipotence (Power) and Omniscience (Intelligence or All Knowing). It’s a matter of training our mind to pay attention to the moment regardless of where we are or what we are doing.

As Dr. Ernest Holmes wrote in “The Science of Mind,” “Since Spirit is present in Its entirety at all times and in all places it follows that all of Spirit is wherever we center our attention.” This awareness assures us that in each moment of paying “nonjudgmental” (i.e., looking beyond conditions) attention to our oneness with Spirit we are accessing whatever we need, not just to survive in the moment but to thrive in the All-ness that God is 24/7.

Be it in the form of guidance, wisdom, strength, acceptance, safekeeping or inner peace; with mindfulness it is, as St. Paul inferred, closer to us than our very breath. Whether we are crossing the street, preparing to sign a business contract, taking a test in school, contemplating what or what not to put into our bodies, facing a life-changing challenge or making a life-changing choice, taking the time to mindfully stop, look, and listen is a wise thing to do.

Why? Because it makes space for Infinite Presence to be remembered, revealed, and actualized in whatever form It needs to bring us into alignment with the Whole in that moment. The practice is not difficult once we master a three-step process.

Next newsletter: A 3-Step Mindfulness Practice That Will Change How You Experience Life

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