Meditation: What Works for You?
July 12, 2008
Being “still” is beyond difficult for me. I would prefer to write, walk, read, sing, run… yet, I see the immense blessing and opportunity of meditation, so I long to do more of it and to master it.
I’ve had some moments over the years when meditation worked for me… however, it usually leads me to a place where I reach for a pen and start writing down ideas. As much as I think that is absolutely healthy, I want to “be still” for longer periods of time and be at peace just “being”, slowing down and connecting with my Spirit and with God. I’ve also become anxious with meditation when I will get the inspiration during meditation to move into action.. for example, “bake a cake” I get up too fast, “go and make one” only to find out that I never listened long enough to know what “kind of cake to bake”, so I fumble making a “chocolate” one when God really wanted a “lemon”… meditating long enough to get the full instructions is so key and essential for me.
I read the national best seller, Eat, Pray, Love on my vacation. Didn’t love the book in its entirety, but I deeply appreciated the sections where author, Elizabeth Gilbert talked about her conflict and struggles with meditation and how she devoted 4 months in India to mastering it, several hours a day, waking up at 3am to do so.
I was inspired by what Gilbert gained from the experience of meditation and was reminded of my own significant experiences with meditation practices, wondering why don’t I do this daily? I long for silence. I need it. I long for breakthroughs and desire an increased ability to LISTEN to God and His will more fully and completely in my life.
For Gilbert the biggest breakthrough came from repetition and from commitment to meditation no matter what, and then surrendering to it, dedicating one particular session to her nephew whom was struggling with sleep issues–ultimately her transformation and love for meditation came when she stopped wondering what it was all about/for and just LOVED him in the moment, the peace of it flooding in for her and then she KNEW how to move forward with it, it was all about LOVE and surrender.
When meditation works for me it’s when I take time to really pray and ask questions of God and wait long enough to ponder and meditate, surrendering my will… that is when answers come and breakthroughs happen. I must remind myself to take the time to slow down, to listen with purpose and focus… not just when I don’t have a pressing concern or specific question.
As I resume meditation practice as part of my daily devotional time, I wonder what meditation tips or insights do you have? What works for you? Would you share with us?
This post was written by Kelly King Anderson, Startup Princess Founder.
I try to incorporate a basic mindfulness into many of life’s ordinary activities. For instance, when you are eating, try to focus only on that specific activity. Take each bite slowly and consciously. Focus on the nourishment that is being provided to your body. It’s amazing how this simple activity can change your daily experience.
Hi Ellen,
Great insight and reminder about being “present” in all things… eating this way would make you be more grateful for what you have and also aware of what is going into your body, likely you’d be more conscious about choices! Love it.
BTW, today I meditated for about 15 min with just the phrase (thank you Wayne Dyer), “I am perfect and complete and “x” is on its way” and I’d insert “joy”, “peace”, “love”, etc. into the “x” as I felt. I was so still, so at one with my Spirit, it was very very pleasant and a refreshing way to start the day at 6:30am!
We’ll see how it goes tomorrow. I was also very conscious of my space, my breath, my body, “sit bones”, and posture…
Boy, I’m still learning how to do this better. Thanks for the tips and insights. I’m not up at 6:30 thinking, I’m up at 6:30 wanting to cry because my baby was up 12 times and is old enough to sleep through the night and I just gave up at 6:30 and tried to start my day but ended up being a walking zombie!
I digress…A few weeks ago I got out of the house while my husband was home and got a pedicure. It was so fantastic that I felt good and refreshed and ready to be home and “working” again. The drive home itself was very productive and i was able to work through some of my work goals and get some ideas I desperately needed. Perhaps when we take that extra minute for ourselves in pampering and showing that we care about the “me” that is often last on the list, we free our minds and make it easier to meditate. Hard to ask for help when we don’t take the time to get to the place where we can hear what God has to say!
I’m not saying that it’s always a pedicure or a massage (wouldn’t that be great!?) but a walk or turning everything off and just sitting for a moment prepares us for that daily ritual.
Thank you for reminding me how important this is, I needed this post.
Michelle,
First time moms/moms of newborns sure need it and often don’t, so good for you. I hope you take time to get many many more pedicures, massages, and time for your self. And you’re right, sometimes its in those moments “away” when we can meditate the best.
I’m proud of you for getting out and pampering yourself a bit, you deserve it!
This morning I went running and trained with Liz Rosenbaum for a bit and when I returned my house was silent with kids asleep and initially I thought, “seize the moment!” go check email and get going on that newsletter for Thurs., but literally as I headed down the stairs I could almost feel a hand stopping me and say, “meditate!! If the house is silent… do it now, you’ll be glad you did!” So I listened and sat down and did some deep breathing and repeated my Wayne Dyer mantra (I am perfect and complete and “x” is on the way…) I couldn’t think of anything I needed really so I just claimed, love, joy, gratitude, health… it was incredibly invigorating and then once I was in this peaceful moment I felt cleansed and reconnected to my Spirit and God once again. I also refrained when I was done from working and read scriptures for awhile. Thank you to the angel who stopped me from working this morning and made me slow down!
I was on a coaching call this morning that was discussing this very topic.
When you first begin to meditate, you will find that you suffer from “monkey mind”! Your mind is jumping from one thing to another- who you have to call, what appointment you need to reschedule, what the title of your next emal campaign should be…
When that happens- focus on your breath- only your breath. Count if you need to as you inhale deeply- hold at the top- and exhale. This will work for a minute until your brain goes- “Wait! I’m not thinking!” Then just recognize it and return to your breath! It takes a couple weeks of doing this- just 7-10 minutes a day- to get your brain used to the idea of “not thinking”. If you want an amzing soundtrack to listen to you to help you get there- try the Holosynch program- from Centerpointe Research- that is what I use.
Here is to a clear and powerful mind!
Hello Jennifer!
Thank you so much for telling us about “monkey mind”, I never knew this had a name. Thanks for the reminder that it’s ok to start with just 7-10 min, that’s where I’m at…hard to do more, but at least I’m improving. I’ll check out the CD you recommend also.
Make a Wish, Make it Happen!