We hear everywhere how important it is to meditate and to be grateful #grateful has thousands of posts – people are looking for ways to show gratitude!
So why should you care? You may feel there are so many things you “should” be doing, and you’re suggesting I do more?!
Believe me, I get it. I just did a 21 day meditation and it took me 3 months to complete. But I did not pressure myself and I was actually able to work through some things, accepting more positivity into my life and forgiving someone who was triggering negative thoughts and responses from me. Just do what you can or do it when you need it most…
Benefits to Meditation:
You do not need to commit to hours of mediation a day! Start small, cut yourself some slack. Just five minutes a day of “non-doing” may be enough to clear your mind, practice self-compassion, increase your mood, your immune function and even boost your brain function.
Simply put, mindfulness can be reduced down to being aware. Aware of your feelings, your breath, your state of being, your environment. If you can pause to recognize when you are starting to go ‘off’ you can slow down and use a technique that works for you to reset. Sometimes all it takes is a simple pause to take a deep breath (or 10) or just moving your body. You will start to recognize what works for you.
Here are some little ways to incorporate mediation & mindfulness into your life:
Do More Of – take small little breaks, especially if you feeling anxious at work or had a rough day with a friend or partner.
I use an simple mantra that I learned from Gabby Bernstein:
Press each finger firmly into your thumb as you recite this simple mantra: “Peace. Begins. with Me.” Breath in and out, slowly calming yourself.
Pro Tip: I do this under the table at work if I am feeling anxious. It slows me right down so I can talk calmly and peacefully. And the best part is that no one can see you doing it!
I have also shared this with my young son who, like me can get a little fiery. It’s an easy way to incorporate meditation in our children’s lives too!
Do Less Of – In our society we are bombarded with ads and social media and our own self doubt. SOOOO, let’s do less of beating ourselves up.
Start to recognize the negative talk track running through your head, that unfriendly voice. Imagine if you said aloud to another human being what you repeat to yourself?!
Try to clear your mind of that voice, simply being aware of the voice will help stop it.
Want more support? Grab a copy of the book “The Untethered Soul” by Michael A. Singer (available on Audible). One of the most memorable parts of the book was when Michael talks about the voice in our head.
According to Singer, the voice inside your head, your “inner roommate”, is the main obstacle to realizing your true self. Because this voice speaks to you as the voice of your own mind, you’ve mistakenly come to believe that it is you.
Give yourself some loving kindness. Each time you catch yourself saying something negative take a breath, do a mantra, reset.
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