Seven Steps To Heaven
When I was a teenager and young adult I worked at a chocolate company. Oh yeah. It was a great job, and I was good at it. Part of the reason why I loved it was because the company was a “YES” company. You want to put that engagement ring inside this Easter bunny? No problem. You want me to pack these chocolates inside this box around that adult video? You got it. You want me to mail a box of chocolate cherries to your special man friend in New York? I’m your girl.
There was something really satisfying about giving them exactly what they wanted. But that’s not (only) why it was a spiritual experience. Part of job was preparing ice cream bars. We would take a vanilla ice cream bar, dip it in either white or dark chocolate and then cover the sucker in nuts or sprinkles.
The procedure for this diabetes on a stick was (internally) called, “7 steps to heaven.” I still remember them:
1. dip vanilla ice cream bar in melted chocolate
2. pull bar out allowing dripping
3. flick off remaining extra chocolate
4. put bar down in nuts
5. flip to other side
6. stand bar up with stick pointing up
7. place paper cup around stick
It is still in my muscle memory.
The seven steps were like a mantra. Dip. Hold. Flick. Place. Flip. Stand. Cup. When I was doing it, I was in the zone. I now realize that the zone is what people call the present moment. And I also now realize that the present moment is the gateway to your spirit.
You’re not wondering what you’re going to make for supper or if your high school boyfriend really loved you.
You just are. You’re fully engaged. Entirely aware.
In the present moment you’re also safe, connected and loved. It’s pretty dreamy!
Since I don’t make ice cream bars anymore, I had to find another way to get into the zone. This is what I discovered:
7 steps to heaven aka the present moment (without the need for sugar coma)
1. Where ever you are – standing or sitting – notice the contact you are making with the ground or the chair.
2. Look around and notice what you see. Lines, curves, shapes, colours. Try not to label. Just notice.
3. Close your eyes and notice what you hear. Again, try not to attach a story to what you are hearing. Just notice.
4. Notice what you smell.
5. Notice what you taste.
6. Feel what you feel. How does the air feel on your skin? Your clothes? The ground under your feet.
7. Feel what it feels like to be in your body right now. Are you aware of any sensations? Any warmth? Cool areas? Tingling? Again, just notice.
You were just in the present moment
How did that feel? What did you notice? Did you get any messages?
This the first step to getting present – tuning into your senses. The key here is to do this without context. Ideally you’re not looking around and seeing the clock and thinking, “Oh God! I have to go.” But instead see if you can just notice the shapes, the colours, the movement of the clock.
The goal is not to interpret anything. Just notice. how it feels to be in your body. (If you haven’t caught on a MAJOR take home here is to NOTICE.)
This will open the door for you to keenly listen to the subtle whispers of your innate wisdom, your spirit, your heart-soul purpose.
(Tweet it, because others need to know about this.)
The more you practice this the easier it will become. The sequence will become part of you. Just like my ice cream dipping these 7 steps to the present moment can become like a mantra: Sit. See. Hear. Smell. Taste. Feel. Notice.
Sit. See. Hear. Smell. Taste. Feel. Notice.
In the comments below I’d love to hear about your experiences. When you tuned in, what did you feel? What did you notice? Did you have any insights?
Oh! You can also use this technique if this article has made you want an ice cream bar (or other vice-like craving.) Tune in, listen to your body, and find out if you REALLY want it, or better yet, WHAT you really want.
Here’s to your healthy, happy, delightful life doing what you love!
Dr. Tonia
