Is meditation one of those things where people think you're a crystal-toting new-age hippie if you do it? Because I've been hesitant to talk about it, but I've been thinking about it a lot.
Let the record show that I don't believe in the healing power of crystals, and I don't even own a pair of Birkenstocks, nor have I ever. (I'd much rather sport a hot pair of stilettos any day!) And although I admit to lighting incense on occasion, it's for air-freshening purposes rather than... I don't know - whatever new-age hippies use it for.
Apologies to any new-age hippies who might be reading this!
Was I going somewhere with this? Oh yeah. Back to meditation.
Anyway, I've been thinking about it for a while. Specifically, that I'd like to learn how to do it, you know, to help me manage stress and give me a better outlook and that kind of thing. I've done it once, sort of by accident, and it was an incredibly peaceful, wonderful experience that I want to recapture. But it's hard trying to get my brain to be quiet!
Yesterday I tried. I sat myself down on the couch, closed my eyes and got to it. I did pretty well for the first 15-20 minutes, trying to just concentrate on one word and my breathing. For a while I thought I was getting there. I felt very relaxed. Atticus jumped up next to me and then started attacking the arm of the couch, but it didn't faze me. A few more minutes passed and my neck started hurting. I stretched it a little. It kept hurting. I tried to ignore it. Then I peeked to see if the cat was still in the room. He wasn't, but he was standing in the hallway staring at me. I shut my eyes again. I wondered if it would help to contemplate the burning candle across from me. I tried. It didn't help. Finally after 40 minutes my phone rang and I gave up!
But not gave up gave up. I'll try again, I think it takes practice.
5 comments:
I simply can't do it. Tried and failed numerous times. Only once did I actually accomplish something, and it was in a group setting.
If you rethink what meditation means, you'll find yourself doing it more often. For example, moving meditation is doing one thing deliberately. So, instead of driving with the radio on and texting and talking on the phone, drive alone and silent. Just drive. And breathe. Or, cleaning your house. Do it silently with intent. Try not to let your mind drift into other things. Say (or think), I clean this sink with this sponge, with this soap, etc. This sounds silly, I know, but moving meditations are just as deliberate as sitting meditations. And you can do them as often as you like and still feel productive.
Good luck! Meditation for me used to be going outside to smoke a cigarette.
I can't meditate - I just can't shut my brain off, tried and failed many many times!!
x
p.s. Would it freak you out if I told you that I'm a hippy?
That moving meditation sounds neat! I've never thought/heard of that.
As for your meditation, nice job on the 40 minutes! That's a very serious meditation session. Before reading this, I woul hbe suggested starting out with 5 minutes. In fact, I think I did suggest that last week, and you didn't even flinch or let a giggle slip.
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