# Summary

The author describes their personal approach to mindfulness through the sensory experience of making stovetop popcorn, emphasizing the engagement of all five senses to bring focus to the present moment.

# Abstract

The article recounts the author's journey with mindfulness, acknowledging their struggle with traditional mindfulness techniques due to an inability to sit still with their thoughts. The author presents an alternative method of achieving mindfulness by engaging in the multisensory activity of making popcorn on the stove, which provides a grounding experience through the smells, sights, sounds, tastes, and textures involved in the cooking process. This method contrasts with the mindless eating habits often associated with watching movies and offers a refreshing take on how to practice mindfulness for those who find traditional methods challenging.

# Opinions

- The author identifies as a chronic ruminator and regretter, suggesting a personal struggle with staying present.
- Mindfulness activities, rather than just thoughts, can be a more effective approach for some individuals.
- The author finds traditional mindfulness meditation difficult but has discovered that mindfulness can be integrated into daily activities like cooking.
- Making stovetop popcorn is seen as an enjoyable, multisensory, and intentional experience that can serve as a mindfulness meditation.
- The author encourages the reader to try this approach to mindfulness and shares their personal seasoning recipe, indicating a preference for customization and experimentation in flavors.
- The author values the re-experiencing of familiar activities in a new, intentional way, especially during the pandemic when routines became monotonous.

How making popcorn is my mindfulness activity

I ignored mindfulness articles for the longest time because I honestly cannot sit still with my thoughts for a whole five minutes.

As a chronic ruminator (living in the future) and regretter (living in the past), I knew that a core piece of self-care needed to bring me back to the present.

If this is you, stay with me, because I see you and you’re valid.

Mindfulness can be so much more.

Mindful thoughts vs. mindful activities

Whereas the stereotypical “mindfulness meditation” turns inward and shines a spotlight on your thoughts, mindfulness movement turns your attention to your sensory experience of the outer world.

The most common example people give is mindful eating, where you focus on the texture, flavour and aroma of the food. Contrast this from the experience stuffing down a bowl of popcorn while your primary focus is on the movie in front of you, and the flavours of the popcorn are really an afterthought.

This is how I leaned into mindfulness for something as ordinary as making popcorn.

Stovetop popcorn as mindfulness meditation

The entire process of making stovetop popcorn really hits on all five senses. It helped me shift from the automatic munching behaviour of opening a bag of chips, to the intentional, fun (!) and multisensory experience of making this snack from scratch.

Smell

It takes ~1–2 minutes for the pot to heat up and the first two kernels to pop, and this is where I really notice and regulate my breathing.
The added plus is that about 30 seconds in, the butter will start smelling amazing, as will the popcorn, so taking in those deep, calming breaths will be rewarded with a heavenly smell.

Sight

Watch the pot. Nothing will pop for about 1–2 minutes. Take this chance to centre yourself on the present moment. (Remember how I could only stand 1–2 minutes of mindfulness meditation? Well that’s included here too)
Finally after 2 minutes of waiting, the rest of the kernels will pop. Reward yourself for sitting with your thoughts for a whole 2 minutes by shifting and focussing on the calming, repetitive motions of popped kernels.

Sound

You’ll need to listen to when the popping slows to a halt, but it doesn’t have to be a chore. Listen to the irregularly patterned pops and imagine how each pop represents a beautiful flower of flavour and crunch.

Taste

Season if you’d like. My personal recipe is saving up half-used seasoning packets from various instant noodles and placing them all in a salt shaker, with a dash of garlic powder. This customized seasoning powder tastes great on popcorn and on roasted vegetables.
Taste the flavour of the popcorn, the melted butter if you added some, the seasoning. For me, because my seasoning packet ratio changes as I consume more instant noodles, this flavour is always new, always changing.

Texture

Crunchy. Crisp. Warm, fresh off the stove popcorn. What more could you ask for?

Try this at home!

It was so powerful for me to re-experience something I’d experienced a million times before in a new, intentional way. This was especially in the context of the pandemic where I was stuck at home with the same old snacks and same old hobbies.

I’m curious to hear whether you’ve had similar experiences so feel free to chirp @ me on twitter!