Oh the inspirational, mystical image of someone sitting, beautifully at peace, eyes closed, legs crossed, hands resting on their knees, palms up with index fingers just kissing the thumbs!  What a great way to achieve tranquility! Or perhaps a sore knee as I found out when I first embarked on this leg of my journey.  Meditation was something I had heard about and thought I should do.  So with no instruction, no research, I sat down, in what I was sure was the appropriate posture to achieve all my goals and ‘meditated.’  Surely five minutes was a short enough time that I would be able to achieve this.  I didn’t last five minutes.  I barely made it to three minutes and that was after peeking at the clock a few times.  My maiden venture aborted I wasn’t sure if I had failed or if meditation was just not for me.  

And yet, I believed meditation held some answers for me and I continued sporadically trying to meditate and calm my mind over the next several months, convinced I would be able to master this practice and my thoughts.  As time slipped by and my goal of tranquility seemed further away each time I sat down and contorted my body into lotus position, I decided a little research was in order.  It was through reading I discovered the goal of meditation was not to control the mind or thoughts but rather to observe those thoughts and not become involved with them, or alternatively, have an empty mind void of thoughts.  At about this same time I found an app I could use on my phone that was helpful with guiding me through this process of letting go.  Best of all I could set the timer for only 3 minutes!  Easy to carve out 3 minutes in a day.  

Thus my true journey with meditation began and soon those 3 minute sessions a few times a week grew into 10 minute daily sessions after just a few months.  I was enjoying my meditation time and was beginning to have glimpses of the tranquility I had been searching for as well experiencing a ‘quieter’ mind.  Such a relief to be able to let go and not ruminate endlessly on a thought or chase ideas around as they darted to and fro in my empty skull.  There is a simple joy in spending quiet time with myself and just letting go of the world for a short time each day.  

There are several meditation techniques that are used including mindfulness (the primary technique I use) and focused as well as moving techniques such as tai chi or yoga.  Meditation can happen when you are alone, with others in a class, as you are walking down the street, at the beach, in a park…ultimately in a comfortable environment for you.  The health benefits are well documented and include lower blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol levels and anxiety.  Indeed, a recent study found the positive impacts of a 15 minute meditation session are similar to a day of vacation.  So I invite you to give meditation a chance, to find a technique that fits your lifestyle  and experience the sense of well-being (and perhaps a bit of vacation!) this practice brings.  

Wishing you a blessed and heartfelt journey! ♥

PS~Follow A Heartfelt Journey to learn more about mindfulness and loving yourself!

https://www.headspace.com/meditation-101/what-is-meditation

https://www.gaiam.com/blogs/discover/meditation-101-techniques-benefits-and-a-beginner-s-how-to

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditative_postures

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga

https://www.psypost.org/2019/06/study-15-minutes-of-meditation-associated-with-similar-effects-as-a-day-of-vacation-53798