To Meditate or Not to Meditate…
I'd like to share the story of how I got started in meditation…
Many of you might know part of this, after my parents passed away, I was a hot mess. I had been “on call” constantly for 3 years. I was first in line for all of the phone calls. My dad was a master at falling and I got more than my share of late night/early morning calls. I had lived in fight or flight for so long, I wasn't sure how to manage myself. I began having health issues and given what I'd been through, my primary doctor recommended I go see an energy healer and I did.
She helped me get out of my head and into my body. She's also the one who recommended that I go back to yoga. She's also the one who encouraged me to start meditating. There are so many misconceptions about meditating, today I'd like to talk about 3 of the most common.
I can't clear my mind. Of course not, meditation isn't absence of thought, it's control of thought. I can't clear my mind either. Sometimes it races and takes over. What happens when you meditate is that you are able to detach from your thoughts and evaluate them.
I have to sit still. Meditation can take many different forms. I love a good walking meditation. But also, sometimes it's good to still the body as well. It can help to move first, then find your stillness. When you're able to find outer stillness, inner stillness will come.
It takes years to see benefits. Personally, I saw benefits within the first few months, but after the first year something happened that solidified what I was seeing. I was on my way into my teaching job on the last day of school. I accidentally rear-ended someone on the interstate exit ramp. In the past, something like that would have ruined the rest of my day. That particular day, it didn't. It also didn't hurt that there was barely a scratch on either vehicle.
Something you may not know is that I love teaching meditation and creating containers where you feel held and cared for deeply.
Do you have a meditation practice or are you wanting to start one? I love hearing stories and would love to hear yours.
As always, Your life is your practice.
