I’ve been practicing meditation for over three decades. I wrote ‘practicing’ because meditation isn’t something that you learn and then move on to something else. It’s a daily practice.
We always have challenges going on in our lives that can send our thoughts and emotions on a ‘roller-coaster’.
So, what happens?
We distract ourselves from our internal dilemmas, and external responsibilities. Our modern society provides us with an abundance of distractions and stimulation that constantly provide us with dopamine hits; it’s a form of escapism. Real power comes from allowing ourselves to feel and acknowledge all of our thoughts and emotions (regardless of whether we perceive them as positive or negative).
Meditation is not an escape from reality. Meditation activates a higher state of self-awareness in that we can acquire greater understanding into our underlying subconscious motivating factors.
There are different ‘branches’ of meditation, providing us with different benefits depending on our desired outcomes. So, before starting a meditation practice, it’s important to get clear on what you want to achieve – understand your ‘why’. Studies show that meditation can help improve our mood, concentration, creativity and more. It has immediate benefits by providing us with a break from the stress of our internal monologue, and helping us to experience ‘theta brainwaves.’ It also has long-term benefits as we start to learn to better control and understand our thoughts and emotions.
So, how can you apply meditation into your daily routine?
This is the part that some people struggle with because they’ve tried to get into the habit of meditating, only to give up quickly because ‘nothing’s happening.’ (Remember that it takes about 30 days to form or break a habit.) The best way to apply meditation into your daily routine is gradually – start with 5-10 minutes per day.
A great option is to try guided meditation. Guided meditation means that you’ll be following a set of spoken instructions – it gives you something external to guide you, so it’s easier not to let your mind wander. There are so many different types available nowadays that you can add to your self-care ‘toolbox’.
My recently released guided meditation: ‘In the Field – Releasing Negative Thoughts and Emotions (Guided Visualization Meditation)’, is now available for streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music (+ other apps), and can also be purchased as a high-quality MP3 digital download here.
Get your copy and experience the power of meditation today!
