Hello! Today is Tuesday, April 28 and I only have 3 posts left in my 30 day blog!
Today I want to bring up, for the millionth time, mindfulness. For real though, I talk about it so much because it really, really works! and it has been working wonders for me through my entire life. Not just recently. Mindfulness meditation has been a big contributor to overcoming all of my life's major obstacles. From eating disorders to severe depressive cycles, mindfulness has kicked everyone's ass. If this is something you are interested in trying and are just beginning, you're in luck because there is a wealth of support for you to explore online. It takes some commitment and an ability to use some imagination, but it's benefits cannot be ignored. The last couple of years, I've talked specifically on this blog about where I go in my mind's eye during meditations and how I use the scene and setting to aid my exercises. Today, I want to go over how exactly I do a very simple and basic mindfulness meditation session. This is the foundation that all my meditation time is supported by.
I start in comfy spot, such as a cushion or chair. I sit up right, straight backed posture, yet relaxed. I close my eyes and try to envision myself relaxing each part of my body, from the top down, while breathing deeply. Sometime I do this for several long deep breaths and I have to keep going back to my jaw and un-clenching it or remembering to relax my face. When I'm ready, I relax my breathing to a normal pace, and start walking to my destination. In my mind, I am walking to my special meditation place that I've envisioned my whole life when I need to relax. Sometimes the walk is long and it's over crunchy leaves and twigs snapping, or the walk may be brief. My spot is next to a stream in a forest, and then I sit down- leaning against a large tree. Next, I usually see Peanut sitting next to me, closing her eyes in the sun. I sit there, next to the little babbling brook, and start watching the leaves float slowly down the stream in it's current. With each passing thought and feeling, I place the distraction on a leaf and watch it float away. If I think my knee is itching, I picture my knee and place it on a leaf and watch if float away. If I'm mulling over my to-do list, I place my to-do list on a leaf and watch it float away. You repeat this until the flow of distractions slows down. I breath deeply in the sunshine of my special spot. Each time my mind wonders, I don't judge myself, I simply acknowledge that there was this thought, and I watch it disappear. This exercise is a great way to approach difficult feelings and subjects in a safe environment.
This is the basic meditation I start with every day. I also use my favorite meditation app, calm, for daily sessions on varying topics, meditations for certain emotions and situations, and relaxing music and storytelling. but even with out this app, wherever I am, I can do this special meditation and go to my special spot. I invite you try it out and see if you can come up with a special spot of your own to go to. Is it somewhere you've been before? Maybe you've never been there, but still you can see it clearly in your minds eye. Let this place, inside your mind, be your oasis not only for comfort when you need it but also as a place to start exploring meditation.
Thanks for hanging out with me for a minute today and please tell me what mindfulness techniques work for you? I'll see you back her tomorrow!
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