Just meditate, they say. It fixes everything.
For years I’ve been told to meditate. I’ve read the books, done the courses, and bought the apps. I’ve delved into science, into the woo and everything in between.
I’ll be honest, I really, really struggle with it. My brain races and it’s buzzy and noisy. I get bored, agitated and distracted.
One day a friend told me “Mediation is not a thinking exercise, it’s an embodied practice”.
That was it. My anxious brain thrives on action, doing, being driven by thoughts and choices and options, working things out, and processing…
But meditation is not something to achieve, or be good at. It is a practice. It’s less head and more heart. It meets you where you are each time, without judgement or assumptions. It is the kind and compassionate act of being with yourself and letting everything just exist in space and time.
You don’t need to worry about getting it ‘right’. The intention of spending time with yourself is an act of self-care, and your body will respond.
It’s ok if you feel bored, or uncomfortable, or like a failure. Listen to your mind and body, and change what you’re doing.
You could count your breaths or do some visualisation to keep your mind focused on something.
If you need to add movement; you could stretch, walk, or have a kitchen disco.
What about repeating a positive affirmation or mantra, or journal your thoughts?
Your practice can be messy, chaotic, buzzy, and imperfect, and still work.
So now, I meditate by mixing up a combo of meditation and mindfulness techniques, all with masses of inconsistency and flex. And it works.
Why don’t you give it a try?
If you’d like some more ideas, you can download my new freebie! It’s an eBook called ‘Meditation & Mindfulness for Noisy & Overwhelmed Brains’. If you’ve ever been intrigued about how you can get the benefits into your life but struggle with getting started, or keeping going, you will find lots of ideas and tips in this eBook.
Here is the link if you’d like a copy. It comes with a few emails all about simple ways to incorporate a new habit, including a fun quiz!
Want to chat more about introducing new habits like mindfulness into your life? Get in touch and we can arrange a free introductory call.
