It has almost become a cliché to suggest you can find solutions to difficult problems while taking a shower, but there’s another side to this solitary rite of cleanliness. It’s one of the few places in modern society where there’s no cell phone or computer – at least most of the time – nor is anyone in trying to capture your attention. There’s a meditative element to showering, which most people do on a regular basis. It affords us the chance to practice living in the moment.
Every human being is continuously filled with thoughts that take us out of all of the possibilities that are available in the present. This daily activity allows us all to fully engage our senses, bringing us into the present. Showering puts us in touch with our sense of touch when the water pours down on us. We immediately feel whether it’s warm or cold and have an opportunity to focus on the soothing white noise of water spraying from the shower nozzle (again, removing us from daily distractions).
There are also smells of soap, shampoo or conditioner that tether our attention to the present. All of that allows us to put a presence practice into motion each day. While we can solve problems when in the shower, and that’s something that naturally happens, it’s also a chance to return to the present. Over the past six months, I have taken this a step further by occasionally enjoying a cold shower that really brings me into presence like nothing else. Showering is one of the simplest things to do – and also a great way to stay clean!