ALLOWING SPACE FOR YOU: MEDITATION
Meditation seems like the newest trend. Every day we hear stories of how powerful the mind is and how we can harness that power to create a different reality, heal the body, and lower stress. But does it really work?
My experience with meditation has been up and down. Some days I can easily get into my flow. Other days it feels like I can’t be still for more than 5 seconds. Even with the ups and downs, meditation is a practice that I often recommend to my family and friends when they need time to just be. If you think mediation can help you or are just curious about the practice of meditation - keep reading!
What is meditation?
Meditation is an ancient practice used by many cultures and religions to connect to self, a higher power, or to be still. In recent years, meditation has become more popular, with increasing needs to disconnect and distress.
This practice can seem daunting, especially if you are someone who can’t sit still. The good news is…there is no perfect way to meditate. This is a time to allow yourself a little grace. You flow with how you feel and what you need at that moment. According to Healthline, there are nine types of mediation: mindfulness, spiritual, focused, movement, mantra, transcendental, progressive relaxation, loving-kindness, and visualization.
Depending on the day, I practice any combination of the nine meditation practices as a part of my morning and night routines. I will talk more about those in later posts. If you are someone who can’t sit still, try a movement mediation. This can include walking, yoga, washing dishes, or even sweeping. This form of meditation allows for movement while letting your thoughts flow.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION?
Mediation remains a big part of my soul care journey because it works! This practice keeps me focused, lowers my anxiety, and keeps me feeling recharged throughout the day. It also helps me to take a moment to reflect on the following items:
Grace and Gratitude: Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed? Hit the pause button and tap into the things you are grateful for to reset your morning vibe. While you’re at it, extend a little grace to yourself - forgive yourself for not being aligned with your intentions and let go of things that are out of your control.
Connecting to Self: When is the last time you checked in with you? We often get busy caring for and serving others, but it is just as important to check in with you. Take a moment to overflow your cup so that you can give from your overflow throughout the day.
Focused Intention: We love intentions at Plant-Based & Slayed! Meditation is a great way to get grounded in your intentions for the day before starting with your daily to-do list.
Tips on getting started
Meditation is easier than you think. Here are my tips for getting started:
Remember, the goal is the practice, not perfection. You don’t have to hit a certain pose or learn a special mantra. Meditation is whatever you make it and whatever you need it to be.
Get familiar with the types of meditation to find out what works for you. Earlier in the post, I mentioned a health line article. This article is a great resource to understand the different forms of meditation and easy ways to implement them.
Guidance is a great start. I started my mediation practice with guided mediation. The guided meditations helped me focus on intentions, control my breath, and bring back wandering thoughts. I used Omvana, Insight Timer, or YouTube to find great guided meditations when I need it.
It’s ok if your thoughts wander. Does your mind start wandering after 2 minutes? That’s ok, and it’s welcome. Acknowledge your thoughts but don’t dwell on them. Let them pass through your mind as you meditate to allow for a clearer mind throughout the day.
Try meditation for at least 21 days. When I am trying to see if a certain practice will work for me, I try it for at least 21 days. The first few days might seem uncomfortable, but by day 21, I know if it will truly work for me. I encourage you to try mediation for 21 days to see if it is a practice that will work for you.
I hope this post encourages you to try mediation and eventually include it in your routine.
