Meditation – The Basics
April 12, 2021
Hi Friends! This week I will be guiding you through the basics of meditation. To a lot of us, meditation can be overwhelming to say the least. I feel now is a good time to touch on this since last week we discussed adding a new activity (ie. meditation) to your daily or weekly routine. If you haven’t read that article, you can do so here! I highly suggest starting with some of my previous articles and working your way to the most recent ones. As always, I am not a professional and these may or may not work for you. I am merely suggesting methods that have worked for me personally. Everybody’s wellness journey is different.
What is meditation? According to Mindworks.org: “Before asking yourself what is meditation? You might want to understand what meditation isn’t. It isn’t about zoning out, or having earth-shattering experiences, or even controlling the mind. Meditation, as a spiritual practice, is more about working with the mind and training in awareness. Simply working with the mind leads to an improved sense of presence, calm, attentiveness, and an increase in valued human qualities such as empathy and patience.” Meditation is one of the easiest ways to begin improving your quality of life. I will walk you through it and you will be surprised at how quickly you note the positive effects.
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How do we begin? As always, I suggest beginning with a question for you to answer. “What am I wanting to get out of this?” Your why is always the most important answer to have before starting any spiritual practice. After you have established your why, we can begin the practice. Remember you most likely will not be good at meditation on the first try. Don’t give up. I promise it will become second nature once you are acclimated to it.
Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
Start by finding a comfortable spot that is free from distraction. For some this could be your living room with a fuzzy blanket and for others it could be the patio. Even your shower works, just don’t prune your skin! Begin by taking three deep breaths – in through your nose, out through your mouth. You can visualize your body like a balloon. Allow your lungs and stomach to fill with oxygen completely, before letting go. Once you are in a comfortable mood, it’s time to quell your thoughts. This is NOT ignoring your stream of consciousness in fact it’s the opposite. Let your thoughts flow freely and acknowledge them without any judgement. Your mind will tell you what you need to hear with practice.
Some tips!
As always here are some tips to help along your journey.
1. First, picture your worries floating away with every exhale. If it is important, it will return to you.
2. Don’t judge yourself too harshly. Like I mentioned, this is a skill that takes practice and time to master. Be gentle with yourself.
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3. Make note of any anxious or distressing thoughts that flow through your consciousness. They are coming through for a reason. Don’t dismiss them.
4. Write down any immediate thoughts or feelings once you are done. Once your eyes are open, The best thing to do is write whatever comes to your mind.
5. Trust yourself and the universe. No matter what you are going through, you are on the right path. Sometimes there are just bumps in the road.
Thank you for reading, Friends!
This week’s resource:
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Stay Well,
Veronica – Weekly Wellness
