Meditation for non-meditators: How to finally get started
It took me a very long time before I finally added mediation to my self care repertoire. Like many, I had talked about it doing it often, but I just never made it enough of priority to actually do it. There is always something which seemed more urgent than meditating. I now know that I was prioritizing everything else. Part of my hesitation was that I doubted I had the patience or ability to actually meditate well. Or that I would stick to it once I started? A lot of my coaching clients ask themselves the same questions. And are thus, effectively, talking themselves out of trying something which would change their lives for the better.
Have you been meaning to start a meditation practice, but are finding hard to actually do it?
Fast forward a few years. I am now in my third year of doing a regular mediation practice. I’m not going to lie, the beginning it was challenging to get in “the zone”, to not be distracted by my rambling thoughts and to consistently make the time for it. But with some self-compassion, it is totally doable to start. And now I can not imagine my life without it. Do you want this for yourself? Then keep reading.
The hardest part about meditating is carving out the time to do it.
Finding the best time of the day for you, is key to getting into – and staying with – a meditation practice. I chose the mornings, just after my alarm goes off. I realize not everyone is a morning person (and neither am I), but it does start my day off on the right foot. The time of day for your practice needs to be practical. It has to fit in with everything else that is going on in your life. Everyone is busy. As a busy, working parent, I need to fit it in before my family realizes that I am awake, grin.
Mornings may very well be the best time to meditate for a busy parent – before anyone else is awake enough to want anything from you.
Some people like to mediate at night before bed or after work. Luckily, it does not matter when you do it. Just try it at different times and see what you prefer. For example, evenings do not work for me. After a long work day, rushing to pick my Kindergardener up from after school care, getting everyone fed and the usual evening kiddie bed time routine, any attempt to meditate in the evening, usually ends up with me falling asleep. So much for developing a higher consciousness, LOL!
Having a set meditation routine, will help you get into the habit.
My morning meditation usually consists of the following routine. Check it out. Maybe it could work for you too? I love that it has me start my day with both an Om and an Umpf.
- 10 minutes meditative oceanic breathing, while visualizing lying in the sand by the ocean and thinking about nothing else but the sound of Om
- Then, I choose 3 aspects of my life I am grateful for.
- I finish off by picking 3 tasks I wish to complete that day to make it the best day possible.
Meditation is profound but simple practice, which goes beyond reducing stress.
Why take the time to meditate? It is a self-created opportunity to pause your internal chatter. Beyond being a stress reducer, research also shows that its positive effect goes beyond the mind. It benefits the rest of your body as well. For example, meditation acts against heart disease, depression, memory loss, digestive problems and sleep disorders. Furthermore, meditation strengthens relationships. People who meditate are less angry and more self-reflective than they are when they don’t meditate.
In short, meditation changes your life for the better.
There are may different ways to meditate. None are righter than others; it is really just a matter of your personal preferences. For example, some people really enjoy guided meditations versus self-steered ones. These types of mediation experiences are great for those who want to be inspired by different ways of looking at their life. I recently gave this a try: A 21-day guided meditation offered by Oprah Winfrey and Deepack Chopra. Each meditation had a theme, accompanied by words of wisdom, a centering thought and a mantra to repeat while meditating for 15 minutes to inspiring music.
If I can do it, so can you!
Guided meditation options can help you adopt the habit of mediating because they feel “easier” and are very inspiring. Even if you had a bad day. I stuck through the whole 21 days. I really looked forward to each episode.
Whether you choose a guided mediation (for example, online) or simply want to do it at your pace, developing a meditation practice can really enrich life.
Want another tip to get started? Commit to mediating for a specific time frame only, for example, just one month. And make a deal with yourself: Should you not like it after that time frame is up, you just stop without feeling guilty about it. You did not fail. You chose to try something and then you chose to stop. If that is what happens, it’s okay. But also be prepared to love it. Go ahead. Try it. In fact, how about tonight?
Namaste (and Om),
Simone
I am available for a select group of one-on-one coaching clients. Besides personal coaching, I also teach people how to coach themselves, either one-on-one or within a Mastermind group. Which method would work best for you? Check out the options by CLICKING HERE.
Simone
