[su_social_media_top]This is the second story in Fruitarianna's three-part meditation series.
I know very well that meditation is good for me. It's an art of balance I need in my busy, crazy life, with my volcano-like nature. It helps me compose myself, soothe nerves, get creative, heal myself and feel joy without reason. I know meditation is necessary for my better understanding of the surrounding world but, most of all, for achieving inner peace and self-acceptance and radiating unconditional love for all. I know meditation makes me feel rested and powerful. It helps me believe in my dreams and justify my choices. I know all that and yet can go months without meditation.
Over the years, I learned so many ways to practice meditation and, still, it can happen that traveling, moving to another home or getting preoccupied by an exciting project makes me put aside my routine. So I want to share those ways so I can recall them better, and you can learn as well how to practice mindfulness even when your schedule is crazy busy like mine.
And remember, meditation serves the purpose of stopping our crazy drunk monkey mind from running with thoughts all the time. What we think about most of the time doesn't serve us. We meditate to quiet our mind enough to connect with ourselves and get back to the source of our being.
Wake up with a Stretch
After your alarm rings, take a minute to stretch as slowly as you can. Say hello to every part of your body, being grateful for your toes, feet, calves, working knees and strong thighs. Be appreciative for your butt, stomach, liver, lungs and heart. Get excited that your arms are long and that you have both hands and each end. Turn your neck from side to side and top to bottom and take a deep breath. Say: "Good morning, life! I love you!"
Breathe It Out. You Can Fake It!
Deep breathing is one well-known meditation practice and is especially recommended when you get stressed out! What you need to do is to fake that you are meditating for 10 long, slow breaths—that's all! Do you think you can do that?
Give Thanks for Your Blessings
Before the first bite of your lunch, take a moment to be grateful for the food you have in front of you and abundance of nourishing meals you eat every day! Think about how this meal will help rebuild your organs and tissues. Think about the loving power of the planet feeding you and then enjoy your meal, knowing you are taking care of your body well with the best food!
Before Going to Sleep
Think about the whole day you just had, what lessons you learned and what would you like to improve in time. Be thankful for all that happened. Then pick one of your dreams and add another exciting, colorful detail to the picture. With that thought, drift off to sleep.
All those simple practices are part of my daily meditation—even after a busy and exhausting day—because I know this is especially when I need to cleanse myself. It takes just a minute or two, after all. I understand many think meditation requires sitting in a quiet room for an hour while trying to empty your mind, and that's true, too. Still, I want you to recognize, that simply breathing and trying to fake it for 10 long breaths is a great way to start!
Now, if you would like to explore other ways to meditate, here are some of my other favorites. I often pick whatever I'm able to put my attention to, depending on what sounds fun at the time. Otherwise, I would never meditate! Are you ready to have some peace now?
Guided Meditation
This is one of my favorites! Over the years, I've amassed a great collection of recordings designed to take anybody by the hand and, step by step, bring him or her to a state of relaxation in which visualization is such a pleasure. With soothing and hypnotic music in the background, it is very easy to fall deep inside, so external sounds and affairs become distant and almost unreal. With some practice, you soon will become a master of meditation!
One thing to remember is to chose guided meditations that take you for cosmic, wonderful journeys inside yourself or to meet your higher self, instead of meditations that double as lectures. The reason being is that during guided meditations, we become vulnerable to any suggestion and, in my opinion, teachings should be listened to with your critical and open mind on. Exploration of the inner world, however, is totally freestyle, and following well-designed guided meditation is risk-free because you are the creator of your own truths!
Most guided meditations are designed to respond to certain intentions. So you can meditate for health, loving relationships, abundance, career success or to increase your psychic abilities and take a quantum leap on a cellular level. You can meet your spiritual guide to ask a specific question, share a problem or clear some blockades you know don't serve you anymore. You can also meditate to increase your energy flow by clearing traumas from the body's energy points. Intentions are limitless, and it all depends on what you need at the time and what you would shift your attention to.
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My Recommendations:
- One of the best audio collections I've ever come across is the one made by Orin and DaBen. Each session is usually 20 to 25 minutes, which is just as much a beginner can feel comfortable with
- Guided meditation with
