We take a shower everyday to make sure we are physically clean, smell, feel and look good. Otherwise overtime our body will give out an unpleasant smell. The same way our mind needs a daily cleanse as well. We walk around with baggage our entire lives, impressions that we have in our mind from growing up and some of these impressions are memories which trigger certain emotions in our present. The mind reflects our thoughts, feelings, sensations and emotions which can be experiential.
Many feel they can’t keep up nor can they slow down. They are constantly connected to devices and social media yet they feel lonely and alienated. What is the purpose of living then? This is where meditation comes in place. It is an intimate relationship with ourselves which influences our daily life. You start being aware and become an observer of your thoughts. You start noticing memories coming up as you sit in silence which trigger different emotions in you however you are not reacting to those memories but simply allowing them to be there. It fades away and something different may come up but you still continue observing which becomes a detachment. Eventually the mind silences itself and all you are doing is breathing. Is it that easy? It was a chore for me when I began meditation, but that changed after 2 weeks of daily meditation. Now it’s become a part of my life and daily routine and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
When I started my yoga practice training, meditation was part of it and I never liked it, I couldn’t keep still. My mind was constantly thinking and creating stories. I kept myself occupied by creating stories and images to entertain my mind while I was sat in meditation for 45 minutes. After the 45 minutes, everyone in class opens their eyes and shares their experiences. I had no idea what I was to share, all I had was scenarios of how my life was or could be. So I shared my experience by saying I felt relaxed and happy. In actual fact I was glad the class was over.
It was until a year later that meditation came back to me through a friend who sent me an audio for meditation which I was required to listen to 2 times a day for 11 days. I started with the audio and the first 4 days were the hardest for me, I couldn’t sit still, my back was hurting. The following few days became easier and I started becoming comfortable with my posture. I could sit still without moving and my mind wasn’t wandering as before. Everyone has a different experience with meditation hence what I share may not relate to you. It may or may not do wonders for you but it will definitely enable you to deal with situations in your life very differently. You start connecting within, it’s a place where your soul resides and there is no need for any creation. Thoughts will arise and there is no need for you to brush them off. Your awareness is on your breath, and when it wanders off you bring the attention back to your breathing. You start becoming an observer your thoughts. There is no need to make it complicated or have a result out of it, simply take 20 minutes for yourself daily. You owe it to yourself and no one can take that away from you.
As they say “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”- Unknown
If you have begun your journey or considering then you are on the right track. My next blog will still be focused on meditation, do suscribe to be kept in the loop.
