Meditation

If I had to choose one thing that makes the biggest difference to my experience of life? Meditation without a doubt.

I remember when I first did yoga in the sports hall at university. At the end of the postures we’d lie down on our mats, close out eyes and “feel the ground beneath us”. I think that’s the first time I brought my full attention to the points of contact of my body and the floor.

I also recall that I fell asleep a lot.😂

Over the years I’ve tried Mindfulness – a friend and I worked through Dan Pearman’s book together.

Then, when I was struggling on my journey to create a family, I started doing a daily walking meditation. 

A dear friend had gifted me Nguyen Anh-Huong’s Walking Meditation CD set a number of years prior and one day it jumped out at me while browsing my bookshelf.

At the time we lived in a house which backed on to woodland. I’d stick in my earphones and head out for a fifteen minute slow shuffle.

I became so well acquainted with that bit of land. I noticed trees, fungi, fallen branches, the way the light coming through changes with the seasons, the bracken which springs up and dies back.

I’m sure I’ve walked every path there is in it. I can still go there now and instantly feel like I’m meeting up with a dear friend – one who you can say anything to and they’ll listen.❤️

Then, five years ago, I did a weekend Transcendental Meditation (TM) training. You get given your own personal mantra and shown how to bring your attention back to it over and over again. The instruction is to practice it twice a day for 20 minutes.

The timing coincided with my daughter starting school. So I started meditating in the morning before the rest of the house woke up and again just before school pick up.

During COVID lockdowns I found it hard to do the full TM practice. I reverted to simply sitting still for five minutes and concentrating on my breath. Or listening to one of Marianne Williamson’s guided meditations. Or going out for morning walks and plugging in to inspiring podcasts.

Regardless of the format, what I’ve noticed is that when I meditate regularly I’m able to navigate life more easily.

Yes, stuff still happens in the world which upsets me, I still get annoyed by others, but I find it easier to catch myself and let it go.

The days when I don’t practice? Well, let’s just say my daughter tells me I’m doing “that volcano thing” again!🌋😳

However life looks for you right now, I wonder,

What daily practice helps you to centre yourself?🤔

How might you prioritise that this week?🤔

Let’s flourish together!

Arlene x