Mindfulness Meditation practices that you’re doing without realizing it
When I first began to study and practice meditation, the concept was a bit hard for me to understand. I was so focused on what I’d seen as meditation, without doing any actual research…only seeing photos of people practicing meditation, sitting still, eyes closed… and then what?
When I’d sit down to give meditation a try, I’d find the inevitable would happen my mind would race with thoughts, becoming the definition of overthinking! Thoughts flying in and out fast, conversations in my head that I’d rehearse to have later, emotions and repetitive thought patterns would arise; each time I’d be frustrated with myself for, “not doing it right”.
What I didn’t know was that there are so many different types of meditations, I was trying to run without learning how to walk. So I did my research and started talking about meditation to others to get their experience or feedback. I found that no one in my circle meditated and were very uninterested in talking about it.
This was twelve years ago, before meditation was a mainstream topic and everyone had some type of awareness to its existence.
So I’d love to share with you my experience and how I began to crawl through my meditation practice building it over time into something that I do daily to assist me in being emotionally resilient and overall healthy in my mind, body, and spirit connection.
I’ll share with you through a series of emails, so be sure to stay tuned for the upcoming experiences and methods, you might find one that’s right for you.
For this post, I’d like to talk about the power of doing ONE THING AT A TIME…this lifestyle practice isn’t just for a few minutes a day but can become your way of being. Which would enable you to find peace in your life and within.
With this concept in mind, I began with two meditations that I was already doing and will continue to do every day for the rest of my life…you do these two things every day also, most of us do…
What are they?
First, drinking…that’s right, drinking can be meditative. (And no, I don’t mean alcohol)
When you first wake up in the morning we always reach out for a drink … whether that drink is water, coffee, or tea, we each have a morning routine with a beverage, so why not make it meditative?
If you’re a water drinker first thing then here’s the meditation…
Grab your water
Have NO distractions
Hold your water and set an intention for the day…just ONE word…How do you want your day to go?
Think of your word for that day, talk to your water
Repeat out loud or in your head the WORD OF THE DAY while drinking
Allow the water to flush your system, riding you of the toxins that developed in the night, ease any anxiety or tiredness, feel refreshed
Give the water permission to refresh you ~ feel the energy change in the body and enter into your day with your refreshed system and word of the day
It might sound a bit silly to talk to your water but the reason for this is deeply spiritual. YOU ARE made of mostly water, water holds memory, if you talk to and allow the water to wash away pain or anxiety, you are telling your body to begin releasing what doesn’t serve you.
This is a POWERFUL yet SIMPLE meditation.
If you’re a “warm beverage” drinker, here’s the meditation:
Prep your warm beverage to your liking
NOTE: if you’re using sugary substances attempt to reduce the sugar as often and as much as you can - sugar breeds disease and illness, meditation is getting that out of the body, the less sugar you consume during this process the better
Once you have your drink, find a quiet place to sit, preferably near a window or outside
Have NO distractions
Sit down and set an intention for the day…just ONE word…How do you want your day to go?
Slowly sip the beverage, with your eyes closed, thinking of your word
Notice how the temperature feels inside your mouth, or as it flows down your throat, follow the sensation of the beverage with each sip
Be aware of what comes up for you, if anything
Listen to the sounds around you without needing to investigate or add stories to it
Be still in this space until your beverage is complete
Both of these methods will prompt you to feel more at ease, ready for the day, clearer, and calmer.
Why? Because you slowed down to give yourself space!
Every day it’s so important to slow down to give yourself the time you need to process, prepare, and get into a powerful energy space for the day that coincides with your word.
The second method, you’ve been doing since you were a child…
Can you guess what it could be?
Brushing your teeth! That’s right, this simple everyday care routine can be meditative in an impactful way.
Check your email for next week’s blog post on WHY brushing your teeth can be meditative to reduce your daily stress.