How to Meditate
Ommm. *I’ve got to respond to that email!* *What should I eat for dinner?* *I need to make a hair appointment!* Many successful people claim to start their day with meditation. But, why and how? I am usually running out of the door with an over-sized, bag falling off of my shoulder with the hopes of finding caffeine soon. So, how am I supposed to find time to meditate? And even if I do, what’s the point?
By definition, meditate means to think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, to think deeply or carefully. My personal, meditation journey has been long and unsuccessful, at least in terms of “traditional meditation.” Trying to consciously meditate is like trying to convince yourself to workout when it’s the last thing you want to do. You know it will be worth it, you know you deserve it and you want to better yourself. But, it is easier said than done. Also, let’s just state the obvious, you probably feel stupid, especially the first time. However, there are apps like Headspace and Calm, which are both are helpful.
Clearly, we are in favor of being Intune, with ourselves, our bodies and everything around us; and meditating can certainly help us achieve that. But, the practice gets easier when you start to take an individual approach. You must realize that meditation comes in different forms and you get to define what meditation means to you. Many people love transcendental meditation, which is sitting or laying with your eyes shut and repeating a mantra for 20 minutes at a time. But that is not ideal for everyone, myself included.
Meditation can look like:
A long hot bath with only you and your thoughts
Taking a run to clear your mind
Asking for clarity and peace through prayer
Listening to an album that inspires you
Reading a book that helps you escape or challenges you
Laying on the couch watching mindless TV (real housewives, anyone?)
And the list goes on and on. You get to decide what helps you be the best version of yourself. Whether you are dealing with anxiety, stress from work or life altering decisions, meditation can help if you allow it. The goal of meditation is to be still with your thoughts and if you can do that, then you have succeeded. In a world where we are over stimulated, sometimes you do need to speed up, but often times you need to slow down. So, I encourage everyone to find your form(s) of meditation and make time for yourself.