Do you meditate? Do you take time for yourself each day to quiet your mind? Maybe you’re one of those people who says that your mind is too busy and you don’t have the time, or maybe you’re like me and you have made meditation part of your daily routine. I’ll let you in on a secret…if you have difficulty quieting your mind, meditation is exactly what you need! It has become my practice for the last seven years or so to take some time for myself each morning - and usually before going to sleep each night.
How I meditate has certainly evolved over the years. In the beginning, I solely searched YouTube until I found something that appealed to me. There are thousands of meditation videos on a plethora of topics: self-affirmations, yoga nidra, healing, creating more energy, sleep, relaxing your mind and body, chakra balancing, anxiety, self-love…the list goes on and on. The videos come in different lengths too, so if you only have a few minutes you can choose a shorter one and if you have more time, well, you get the idea. Many even go for hours. Although how one could meditate for that long is beyond me! One of my favourites that I have listened to countless times over the years is found using this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYP_W49o1vQ It’s 10 minutes long and is a great pick-me-up to start the day!
While I tend not to meditate on the weekends for some strange reason, I guess because I am a person who does best with routines, I truly do find that doing so during the week sets me up to have a positive day. There are so very many benefits associated with meditation. When you type “Benefits of Meditation” into Google,183 000 000 results come up. While perusing several of these hits, some benefits that regularly show up are: improves concentration and attention, lowers stress levels, reduces anxiety, improves symptoms of depression, enhances self-awareness, improves clarity of thought, improves sleep, and lowers blood-pressure. Honestly, the list goes on and on. So, why do I do it? I find that it allows me to start my day in a calm and focused manner. I think more clearly and am able to concentrate better on what needs to be done in the moment. This has proven to be a huge plus at work because I am able to get tasks done much more efficiently. In addition, I am more mindful now and more self-aware. I sleep really well too, because I don’t get caught up with an inner dialogue rehashing the events of the day or with concerns about the future that I could easily dwell on.
In case you’re now thinking that you might want to dip your toe in the water and try out this meditation thing, I advise you to take it slow. Start with one minute each day and work your way up. Also, it’s best to do your meditation first thing in the morning before your mind gets filled with thoughts. Don’t think that you have to just sit still in a quiet space either, although that’s often what is recommended. You could instead choose to spend time in nature taking in all of its glory, go for a walk or run, or perhaps practice yoga. The important thing is that you quiet your mind from the mental chatter using your breath as an anchor. When your mind veers off track and starts following a train of thought, which it will, redirect it back to your breath. It isn’t always easy, but with practice, you’ll get the hang of it. How long you meditate for is up to you, but Abraham Hicks recommends doing so for between 15 and 20 minutes.
As I said earlier, how I meditate has evolved. I have gone from only listening to YouTube videos, to incorporating Wim Hof breathing as part of my routine. Immediately after I finish my two to four rounds of breath, I listen to 528 hertz frequencies for healing (see my RESOURCES section for some links). This combination really works to clear my mind and leaves me feeling so incredibly calm and peaceful. It truly is a great way to start the day!
As mentioned at the beginning, morning isn’t the only time I meditate. I also regularly do so before going to sleep. I tend to prefer using YouTube videos in the evening because I find they help me wind down from my day. Again, there are soooo many out there. I will put some of my favourites in the RESOURCES section for you to check out.
Lastly, when it comes to meditation, I find it helpful to re-centre myself on those rare days when I am feeling crabby or blue. Taking just a few minutes to myself away from others where nothing is expected of me is generally all I need to get myself back on track. I realize not everyone has the luxury of escaping for a few private moments. In this case, I have heard and read several sources suggesting to head off to the bathroom to take some slow, deep intentional breaths. Taking these mindful breaths helps to reset the nervous system and tell your brain and body that everything is okay.
I wish you all the best on your journey and hope that perhaps I have convinced you to give meditation a try. I’m even going to go so far as to challenge you. Sometimes that’s what we need in order to try something new, especially if it is outside of our comfort zone. Try it out for a week, that’s all, but be intentional and really commit. Remember that positive changes don’t happen overnight, and they certainly don’t happen without effort. Leave a comment and let me know how you fared and what you noticed. You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn about yourself through Meditation.
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