Ok, my dears… I’m about to talk about a topic that’s near and dear to me: MEDITATION.
Now, I get it. It sounds out there. You’ve got way too much on your mind. You don’t ever sit still. You think quieting your mind sounds impossible. Or, the comment I heard most recently: How exactly do you think about nothing?
Ok, ok… I know it sounds scary. The idea of sitting in silence and not mentally reviewing your to-do list can sound really intimidating. But, let me remind you…. it’s just you and your mind. You can do this.
I’ll tell you a little bit about my journey with meditation and why I enjoy it. And, at some point, I’ll finally write that post that I’ve been meaning to frame FOREVER about the meditation retreat that I went on back in May that started this whole thing…
But for now, let’s talk about meditation. This may be the first time I’ve *really* talked about it here on NTTC, but I have a feeling it won’t be the last.
For the past 10 days, I’ve been meditating. TEN DAYS, you guys. That’s a long time. Every day, I’ve spent time focused on my breath, clearing my mind, and contemplating a more permanent practice.
When I was in Nashville, not only did I get a chance to see the lovely Adele in concert (!!), but I also had a chance to visit with dear friends including my friends Angela and Justin. We went to brunch at one of my favorite brunchy places in East Nashville called Margot (if you’re in Nashville, you’ve got to check out this gem. So delicious). Over brunch, we caught up on life, career, and all the happenings. And, while it’s not often that I’m in the presence of TWO doctors, I definitely love the conversations that come about, and in this mix of PhDs, the conversation of meditation came up.
Justin and I both admitted that we’d like to add some discipline to our meditation practice and Angela agreed (albeit slightly skeptically) to give it a shot as well. We decided to use the Headspace app and to use social media to stay in touch with our progress. (You may have seen my Instagram posts lately capturing my recent meditation checkpoints – – this is why!)
So, Headspace is new app for me to use. There is a FREE ten-day trial that you can check out by downloading the application. On your first session, you’re greeted by a male facilitator that guides you through each session. You’ll also find occasional videos pop up, which offer some guidance on how to proceed through the trial. They’re kind of cute and cheeky, and keep things upbeat. Also… there’s something about the British accent the facilitator has.
Guided meditation is a great place for beginners (myself included.) The facilitator walks you through the process. So, you’re not alone with your mind and your thoughts trying to figure out how to think about nothing. I promise, it’s not as scary as it sounds.
So, each day, I’ve sat down taking a quiet 10 minutes to meditate. And, I’ve felt fantastic. I’ve talked about it here before, but keeping my promises to myself are my favorite. So, I get some fulfillment from doing what I said I was going to do. I also feel like during a very chaotic time, I’ve consistently dedicated 10 minutes a day which is awesome.
I’ve even done it when it didn’t seem easy or convenient (hello – on vacation with a friend and at an airport!) I will admit, I meditated here one morning at Montelucia, and it was incredible.
I sat right there in the third chair from the left, and let me tell you… some people came and sat down with me and brought their dog. Seriously, but I kept on…
There are an incredible amount of health benefits tied to meditation (lower blood pressure, reduced cortisol production, and higher quality sleep to name a few!), and I truly believe it makes the world we live in a better place. Much like the HappinessTourKG, I truly believe that putting meditation out there into the universe is really helping us all. With so much hate and disagreement in the world right now (#election), I can’t help but think that everyone. Taking a moment to meditate every day could really drive a positive change in the world. And if we all do it together…
Could we possibly drive change? Let’s say. (Just for fun) that I’m wrong, but here’s the thing: You’d still have 10 minutes of peace each day. And, that could change your vibration. Your vibration at home. Your vibration at work.
So, try the Headspace app. Check it out. See what it does for you. For me, meditation has made a world of difference…
Do you meditate?