Listening to the Ocean

Learning Stillness with Pensive Penguin

As the sun rises over Maui, Pensive Penguin finds himself sitting quietly on the shore. The ocean stretches out before him, vast and shimmering. Waves roll in, waves roll out. He closes his eyes and begins to listen.

Not just hear, but listen. Deeply. Gently. With all his heart.

In Maui, the ocean is more than water. It’s a teacher. Its rhythm reminds us how to slow down, breathe, and be present. It tells us:

There’s no rush.
You are right where you need to be.
Everything comes and everything goes.

A Simple Ocean Listening Practice

You don’t need to be by the sea to try this. Just find a quiet space and follow along:

1. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed.

2. Breathe in slowly through your nose, as if you’re hearing a wave roll in.

3. Breathe out gently through your mouth, like the wave rolling out.

4. Repeat this for five breaths, imagining the sound of the ocean with each one.

5. Now just listen—to your breath, your body, the quiet around you.

You may notice your mind wandering. That’s okay. Just return to the rhythm. Like the waves, always returning home.

In a noisy world, listening is a superpower. It helps us feel calm, connected, and open to the beauty all around us. Pensive Penguin reminds us that the ocean is always speaking—sometimes with waves, sometimes with silence.

And if we really listen, we might hear something inside ourselves too.

How did you enjoy this Pensive Penguin mindful exercise?  Let us know in the comments!