Surprise! We couldn’t resist adding one more episode to our October mindfulness journey. Today is Halloween, and Lele and Nieta invite you to explore a theme that fits the day perfectly: fear. This special practice uses mindful visualization to gently observe and engage with fears whether it’s spiders, public speaking, or something else. You’ll learn how to notice your emotional and physical reactions, and how repeated, intentional exposure through mindfulness can help you build resilience and reduce fear over time. Remember: fear is a natural part of being human. This practice isn’t about pushing fear away it’s about meeting it with awareness, compassion, and curiosity.

Congratulations! You’ve reached Day 22 of the October Mindfulness Challenge. Today’s practice, led by Lele and Nieta, is a joyful and reflective way to close the journey: mindful listening to music. Choose a favorite song, any genre, any artist, and give it your full attention. Notice the rhythm, the melody, the emotions it evokes, and even the memories it brings. Try to hear something new, even in a song you’ve played a thousand times. Let music be your anchor to the present moment. Thank you for being part of this challenge. Whether you joined for a few days or all 22, your presence made this journey meaningful. Keep practicing, keep exploring, and let mindfulness continue to be part of your everyday life.

Welcome to Day 21 of our October mindfulness journey. Today, Nieta guides us through a powerful practice of observing emotions noticing what arises in the mind and body without judgment or labeling. This exercise is best practiced in real-time, when a strong emotion surfaces. Whether joy, frustration, sadness, or excitement, the invitation is to simply observe and allow, rather than react. This builds equanimity the ability to remain steady and present, no matter what arises. With just one day left, you’re almost at the finish line! Thank you for being here, for showing up, and for practicing together.

Welcome to Day 20! With just two more days to go, you’re almost at the end of our 22-day mindfulness journey. If you’ve been practicing regularly, you’ve built something truly meaningfula habit of presence, reflection, and care. Today’s practice is a short and simple mindful journaling exercise with Pat. You’re invited to write three sentences about how you feel right now. Approach this with intention and curiosity. Let the words flow without judgment, and notice what arises in your body and mind as you write. Thank you for being here, for showing up, and for practicing together.

Welcome to Day 19 of our October mindfulness journey. Today, Pat invites us to take a mindful pause outdoors—or simply by a window. This short practice encourages you to open your senses to the world around you. Whether it’s the breeze, the colors of the sky, the sound of birds, or even the stillness of the air, allow yourself to experience it with a sense of wonder and openness. Let nature be your meditation space today.

Welcome to Day 18 of our October mindfulness journey. Today’s practice is a gentle reminder to appreciate your body—not for how it looks, but for all it does to support your life. We often spend time in our minds or criticizing our bodies, but this practice invites you to shift into gratitude and non-judgmental awareness. From your breath to your heartbeat, your senses to your movement—your body is a miracle of survival, growth, and connection. End the practice with a mindful stretch and carry this kindness with you throughout your day.

Welcome to Day 17 of our October mindfulness journey. Today’s practice with Pat is a short but powerful sound meditation. Whether you choose music, nature sounds, ambient noise, or even silence, this practice invites you to simply listen—without labeling, judging, or reacting. Notice how quickly the mind tries to name or evaluate what it hears, and gently return to the act of listening itself. Let sound be your anchor to the present moment.

Welcome to Day 16 of our mindfulness challenge. Today’s practice is a grounding belly breathing exercise that invites you to reconnect with your body and its natural rhythms. By gently guiding your attention from your feet to your belly, you’ll tune into the subtle yet powerful movement of your breath. This practice activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping you feel more relaxed, centered, and connected to your inner wisdom—your “gut instinct.” Let your breath be your anchor today.

Welcome to Day 15! If you’ve been practicing daily, you’ve likely started forming a beautiful habit—a small ritual that brings you back to the present moment. Today’s practice is all about the mindful smile. With just a breath and a gentle lift of the corners of your mouth, you can shift your mood, soften your body, and reconnect with gratitude. Smiling mindfully is a simple yet powerful way to embody joy and presence. Let your whole self smile—your face, your heart, even your feet. And carry that smile into your day.

Welcome to Day 14 of our October mindfulness journey. Today’s practice is a gentle thought observation exercise that invites you to imagine your mind as an aquarium—full of colorful thoughts, emotions, and distractions swimming by. Rather than getting caught up in each thought, this practice helps you take a step back and simply observe. Like watching fish through glass, you’ll learn to notice your thoughts without judgment, allowing them to come and go while staying grounded in your breath and body. This is a powerful way to cultivate presence, especially as we head into the final stretch of our challenge.

Happy Friday and welcome to Day 13! Today’s practice is all about mindful stretching—a gentle way to bring awareness to your body, breath, and emotions through movement. Whether you're at your desk, on the bus, or standing in your kitchen, you can stretch with intention. The key is to move slowly, tune into your sensations, and notice how your body feels. This practice is a perfect way to close the week with presence and ease, enjoy!

Welcome to Day 12 of our mindfulness challenge. Today, Pat guides us through a gentle and grounding breath and body awareness practice. This session invites you to tune into the sensations of your body—both external and internal—and to connect with your breath as it naturally flows. By simply noticing what’s present, without trying to change anything, we cultivate a deeper sense of presence and curiosity. Let this practice be a moment of stillness in your day, helping you transition into what’s next with greater awareness and ease.

Welcome to Day 11 of our Mindfulness Challenge. Today’s practice is a gentle visualization exercise that invites you to revisit a place that brings you peace, safety, or inspiration. It could be a cozy room, a quiet forest, or a sunlit beach—anywhere that feels like a sanctuary. Through guided imagery, you’ll explore this space with all your senses: noticing colors, textures, sounds, and emotions. This practice helps cultivate calm, presence, and emotional resilience—especially valuable during busy or stressful times. Let this inner journey be a reminder that peace is always accessible, even in the midst of a hectic day.

Today marks a special milestone in our mindfulness journey—Day 10, which coincides with the Mindfulness@IBM Summit. As we gather to celebrate the power of presence and well-being, we invite you to engage in a simple yet profound practice: mindful eating. Whether it's a chip, a peanut, or a slice of fruit, this practice encourages you to slow down and savor each bite with full awareness. Notice the texture, the sound, the smell, and the taste. Reflect on the journey your food has taken to reach you. Let this moment of nourishment be a celebration of mindfulness—just like the summit itself. Let’s savor the summit, one bite at a time.

Welcome to Day 9 of the 2025 October Mindfulness Challenge! Today’s short and refreshing practice, led by Nieta, is all about making a clean transition — from one moment to the next, from one task to another, or simply from wherever you are now into what comes next. Through a few intentional breaths and a gentle reset of your awareness, this practice helps you: Let go of past distractions Pause before the next thing Step into the present with clarity and calm Perfect for any time of day — whether you're starting your morning, shifting between meetings, or winding down. Take a few minutes to reset and begin again.

Welcome to Day 8 of our October Mindfulness Challenge — and a special acknowledgment of World Mental Health Day. Today’s practice is a gentle and grounding Mindful Walking Meditation, designed to help you reconnect with your body, breath, and surroundings through movement. Walking is something we do every day, often without thinking. This practice invites you to slow down, tune in, and walk with intention — transforming a simple activity into a powerful tool for mental clarity and emotional balance. 🧘‍♀️ What you’ll experience today: A guided walking meditation Breath and movement awareness A reminder of how mindfulness supports mental health Whether you’re walking in a park, down a hallway, or around your home, this practice is a beautiful way to honor your well-being.

Welcome to Day 7 of our October Mindfulness Challenge! Today’s practice is a gentle and heart-opening Loving Kindness Meditation — also known as Metta. This guided exercise invites you to cultivate feelings of kindness, compassion, and goodwill toward yourself, loved ones, neutral acquaintances, and even those you may find challenging. Through a series of intentional phrases, you’ll expand your capacity for empathy and emotional resilience. 🧘‍♀️ What you’ll experience today: A peaceful visualization in a safe, familiar place Loving kindness directed toward yourself and others A deeper sense of connection and emotional balance This practice is a beautiful way to nurture your inner world and strengthen your relationships — starting from within.

Welcome to Day 6 of our October Mindfulness Challenge! Today’s practice is a classic and widely used technique: counting the breath. This simple yet powerful exercise helps you anchor your attention, especially during moments of stress or overwhelm. By counting each breath — forward and backward — you create a rhythm that naturally calms the mind and brings clarity to your day. 🧘‍♀️ What you’ll experience today: A breath-focused practice for grounding and relaxation Counting techniques to deepen awareness A tool you can return to anytime you need to reset Whether you’re seated, standing, or on the move, this practice is always available to you.

Welcome to Day 5 of our October Mindfulness Challenge! Today’s practice is a classic grounding technique known as 5-4-3-2-1, designed to anchor you in the present moment using your senses. Through this guided exercise, you’ll explore: 5 things you can see 4 things you can feel 3 things you can hear 2 things you can smell 1 thing you can taste This sensory-based practice is a powerful way to reconnect with your surroundings, calm your mind, and cultivate awareness — anytime, anywhere. 🧘‍♀️ What you’ll experience today: A full-body sensory check-in A simple tool to reduce stress and increase presence A reminder that mindfulness is always available, no matter the day or setting Enjoy!

Welcome to Day 4 of our October Mindfulness Challenge! Today’s practice invites you to tune into the sounds around you — not just the loud or obvious ones, but the subtle, continuous, and distant sounds that often go unnoticed. Through this guided exercise, you’ll explore how sound can anchor you in the present moment and reveal the richness of your environment. You’ll also notice how sounds trigger thoughts and associations, offering a deeper layer of mindfulness. 🧘‍♀️ What you’ll experience today: A practice of open, non-judgmental listening Awareness of both external and internal sounds Reflection on how sound shapes thought and attention No special setup needed — just listen, wherever you are.