On Meditation:
It all begins with creating the space for yourself. Life’s distractions will always be in your way, let’s call these distractions “roadblocks.” That work email you forgot to send earlier, the phone call that you need to make, and the list you need to make for the trip to the grocery store- all are detours to a meditation practice. The first part of establishing the practice is making the conscious decision to put distractions aside, even just for 5 minutes at a time. Start small, and step into the role of the observer.
A meditation practice is a process to re-discover the quietness that is already there, behind the filter of your internal dialogue. This silence is awareness- the gap- between thoughts. In this space of quiet awareness, you recognize that your true self is not the waves of thoughts that constantly wash through the mind. You are the observer to your thoughts, and actions.
A regular meditation practice establishes that inner-quietness in your life. When we become internally quiet: we are able to connect with our truest self, create, and make clearer choices. Through a meditation practice: you accept stillness, make space for something new, transform thinking, and find solutions.
Find a quiet space. Sit tall, close your eyes, and take inventory of your breath. Bring your inhale from chest to diaphragm for four counts, and take your exhale to match-four counts. Notice how you feel. In this space, you hear your own thoughts. Trust me- all part of the process!
Introduce a mantra to repeat in the mind. A mantra is a primordial sound. When repeated, mantra’s interrupt the flow of meaningful thoughts during your practice. In this space, we bring the attention of the mind to quieter, more abstract levels of awareness. As the mantra repeats, we eventually slip beyond thought into silence. All that’s left is the one thinking the thoughts, true self. An example of a universal mantra is: “So- Hum” which means- “I am that” in traditional Yogic Sanskrit terms. This mantra is used in a meditation practice for: support, love, and protection.
My favorite meditation tool is an app called Insight Timer. This app is full of guided meditations, which walk you through a practice. I use the timer when I meditate so I can keep track of how long I was able to sit, and how many sessions I’ve completed.
Start small. I challenge you to sit before you even get out of bed in the morning. Prop up some pillows and take a seat before you start your day. Even if it’s just 5 minutes, I promise you will notice a difference overtime!
