Stop, Drop, and Meditate

/ Viv@Grief Happens

How many of you meditate?

Do tell.

What’s your approach?

Do you use an app?

Do you go to a meditation group?

Do you like guided meditation?

TM — Transcendental Meditation?

I’ve explored meditation here and there throughout my adult life but rarely with much consistency.

I did a few of those free 30-day meditations with Oprah and Deepak Chopra, and they were okay, and I’ve even taken classes and attended group meditation groups sporadically.

I just have a hard time continuing it, and I think it’s because I’ve never seen much of a benefit.

Maybe that’s the problem. Even though I try not to be, it seems I’m too tied to results.

And that could be because most lovers of meditation sing such praises.

I DO believe in the power of the breath and have become quite proficient at using mine to calm myself or even to increase energy mid-day.

I’ve done yoga for years — and here is maybe my issue. Yoga feels meditative. I’ve done many different kinds of yoga. Some that’s very intense and more oriented for exercise and getting in shape. But I’ve also practiced types of yoga more geared towards inner peace — and honestly that’s more what I go for these days.

I credit yoga with numerous benefits and positive changes in my life. I feel better in every area of my life when I practice yoga daily.

I started meditating today and simply sat on the floor and breathed in and out for twenty minutes. I think the reason I prefer yoga over meditation is because I have a hard time sitting still — like in order to get the calm mind benefits, I have to move my body or something. I am clinically hyperactive.

I’m just gonna go for it and not be particular about how I meditate this time. I’m striving for twenty minutes morning and evening — those are my only guidelines. I’ll keep you posted.

I’ve been watching this Chase Jarvis series on CreativeLive called 30 Days of Genius. If you haven’t checked it out, I highly recommend it. The videos are on YouTube and free for now. He interviews a variety of entrepreneurs, creatives, and “thought leaders.”

Chase asks all kinds of questions, but more than anything he tries to probe into some of their daily habits. Rather than focusing on their successes, he strives to get to know them and showcase the way they exist in the world to inspire viewers.

If you’ve read this blog much, you know that I often write about finding my groove and figuring out what makes me function most optimally. It’s an ongoing thing for sure. I haven’t necessarily written solely about my habits, but I touch on sleep and wake-up times and exercise — particularly mind/body stuff. I’m constantly experimenting with what works best for me, and I’m always curious about what works for others, too. I have found that being flexible with my routine while making sure I have one works well.

But throughout these Chase Jarvis interviews, I hear “meditation” over and over and over.

So…once again, I’ve been inspired to try it. I’m striving for thirty days. My kids had their last day of school and are out until mid-August, so it’s time to re-vamp our routine. I have to make sure we have one that’s enough but not too rigid. I thought now would be a good time to throw in some meditation. I certainly need all the help I can get staying chilled out with my wild boys around all summer — and of course I mean that in the most loving way…

I would love to hear from any of you regular or sporadic meditators. What do you love? How do you approach it? Any tips you’d like to share?

 

 

 

14 thoughts on “Stop, Drop, and Meditate”

  1. Pingback: Summer Update: Writing, Music, Meditation & a Social Media Sabbatical | Grief Happens

  2. There are so many methods to calm one’s mind. While I am sure there is a dictionary definition out there for meditation, I have no idea what it is. But I do have a few habits that I consider meditative. Running, for example. Like you, I am ever-moving. However, I can go for a jog and just let my mind wander and it’s calming. Another thing I do which is also probably pretty weird – I watch water boil. Its mesmerizing lol! Finally I enjoy sitting out on the patio and grilling with a cold tea, water, or beer. I can think about the day, my problems, etc., but because I’m also watching and listening to the food cook, I have to get up to move things, add wood or charcoal, so I’m still kind of connected to the real world.

    Liked by 1 person

    • You are the first person I’ve ever heard say they watch water boil…but I can absolutely see that it could be meditative. 🙂

      I do what you describe with running when I walk in my neighborhood. I used to run a lot, but I never was able to get to that state WHILE I was running. I love how I feel after…not so much during, but a nice brisk walk seems to work these days.

      And I definitely get what you mean about something like grilling. Gil says the same thing. He also says that brewing beer is that way for him — maybe we ADD folks need some sort of mental engagement in order to get into a meditative state.

      I’m trying to just stay open to options and do it and not make too many rules. So far so good. Thanks for commenting!

      Like

  3. I can’t sit still for very long either. I suppose my time sitting on the deck listening to the sounds of nature is my form of meditation. Other than that, I have to use my breathing as well.

    Liked by 1 person

    • A week in, I’m finding that forcing myself to be still will not work. I’ve gone to the beach several times this week and taken some calm walks through the neighborhood. I’m constantly reevaluating the best way to do this. Thanks for the input. 🙂

      Like

  5. Hi – I have tried it on occasion only. I like some of the free apps a lot but ideally would love to do something at a studio. Yoga sounds like my way to go, too. I love the idea of movement with the “letting go.” Anyway, I’m off to write but will be back! I can tell already we have much in common. Wish you lots of peace today! Andrea

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you for commenting! I bet you would love yoga. I love taking classes, but I can’t make it happen these days so I do a lot of YouTube videos. Yoga With Adriene is my current favorite, and she has a free series where she breaks down the most common poses. It’s excellent especially for those new to yoga. I’m three days in with the meditation — so far so good. I’ll update periodically throughout my 30-day experiment. I can’t wait to check out your writing. Peace to you, too. Have a fabulous week!

      Like

  6. Both my therapist and psychiatrist are longtime meditators and rave about it. They’ve been urging me to try it but I haven’t been ready to do it. (You know that line, right? 🙂

    I’m very impressed and inspired by your exploration of meditation. I’ll let you know what happens when I finally take the meditation plunge!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Same here, Dyane — multiple mental health professionals have been encouraging me to meditate for years now. I’ve probably shared this with you before, but the ONLY way I started actually LIKING yoga was after I hurt my knee in a ski accident and was sidelined from all high impact exercise for 6 months. And I’ve practiced yoga in some form or other for over 10 years now. I’m still not super-chill, but it has had an impressive effect on my mental health (I remember you’re not a fan of yoga…and that you’re kind of surrounded by annoying yogis where you live. :-)) I’ll have to write a future post about my whole experience with coming around to yoga. Anyway, I’ve done various meditation-type stuff through yoga but I haven’t managed to maintain any sort of regularity with it. This 30-day experiment is a test to see if I can kind of relax about it, with the only goal being that I do it every day. I’d love to ideally do 20 mins. twice a day, but I’m realistic enough to know that’s not going to happen. Yesterday I did 8 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes before bed (and I almost fell asleep during the second session.) I don’t know about you, but even properly medicated, my mind never stops. I just know there are so many benefits, and I can already tell that I”m more patient with my children after three days. It’s like I can tap into that ability to breathe and calm myself better in stressful situations (like yesterday’s Target trip from hell…) when I’m regularly meditating. Not sure that makes sense. I very much struggle with social/anywhere in public anxiety — mostly when I’m out with my children. They’re extremely active kids — and I’m not sure if this is a boy thing or a “my kids” thing, but they are all action before thought AND they take things apart. They’re getting better now that they’re older, but it’s still hard. Anyway — that’s another post right there. Oh — forgive this streaming, inconsistent paragraph — but the first series of meditations I ever did was the Oprah/Deepak one I mentioned in this post. Eve, my therapist did it with me, but I wasn’t all that crazy about it. They’re very guided, and maybe I just wasn’t ready. I also think that because Eve was asking me about it, I felt pressure to “do it right” or something and often felt like I was failing. So we shall see what happens this time. Hope you’re doing well — better. I had a helluva sinus infection, but I think I’m finally over it. Have a great week! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I teach a basic meditation class and my main focus is always on showing people that you don’t have to have a whole 30 minutes, special music or to sit still. Yoga is a form of meditation but one that I have never found as a fit for me. I have a blog here on my WP about meditation and keeping it simple. I also have a couple guided meditations I created on my Youtube. You find what works for you and stick with it. For you it’s Yoga. You might find a short meditation that involves slight movement easier for you too 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much for your comment! I have read a little of your blog, but I hadn’t thought about it since I began this thirty days of meditations. I will definitely look at it more AND your YouTube guided meditations! I love what you said about not having to have a whole 30 minutes or special music, or (for me especially) to sit still. I’ve been doing my best to roll with it this go around and just do it. I’m on day three and already loving the less rigid guidelines. It feels even better hearing that it’s okay from a legit meditation teacher. 🙂 I look forward to checking out more of your blog. Thanks again!

      Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.