I suck at meditation. I’ve tried in the past to sit quietly, legs folded, hands in a receiving position, focusing on a white sheet of paper. It lasts about 3 seconds before thoughts come in like a hail storm. ‘I could go for a run’, ‘did Lainey take her lunch?’, ‘I could use a new pair of shoes’…you name it, I think it. Anything and everything but that white sheet of paper. I usually get up from my meditation attempt and decide I’m bad at it and quit.
I want to be successful at meditating because the evidence based research is overwhelmingly in favor of meditation. Meditation can help with: weight loss, reducing chronic stress, helping to manage stressful situations, depression, managing cardiovascular disease (yep!), for recovery from illness, managing wellness, managing family, balance your hormones and so much more. Everytime I read about the positive effects of meditation I think ‘I need to commit’.
So here I am announcing that “I commit to meditating!”. BUT, in order for me to be successful I know I need to approach meditating differently. In other words, no more me sitting on a pillow hoping for the white sheet to work miracles. Rather I’m treating this as if I’m training for a marathon. I have to start slow; with tools that will make me successful.
So I’ve chosen two free meditation audios and I’ve reviewed them both. The first is 10 minutes long and is guided by a female instructor. She tells me what I need to hear and I’ve tried it and found it to be soothing and helpful. The second meditation is guided by an Australian male, 17 minutes long (a little lengthy) but soothing and supportive as well. No white sheets required and I seem to retain greater focus. YES!
This is where I need your help. I need to create a habit. Will you join me? For 10 minutes a day for 10 days? Here’s the scoop:
- I’ve included two links for guided meditations in this blog.
- Cultivating Peace and Joy (Aussie male and 17 minutes long)
- A long list of other meditation options.
- Sending Love (Female and only 10 minutes long)
- You need to set 10 minutes aside for yourself to do this. It can be at home, in the car, sitting outside or inside. YOU Choose!
- You’ll need your computer, or your smartphone and ear plugs if you choose.
- I’ll post throughout the 10 days appreciating your input and invite you to post and share as you please.
Sound do-able? Are you in?
If so we’ll begin this Wednesday October 15th, 2015. (By the way you are never too late to join)
Looking forward to it and looking forward to hearing from YOU!
Be well,
Lynn
hey! i just read your invitation for meditation habit! Meditation rocks! I use to have trouble ‘clearing my head’ and I began to visualize a table filled with food and then imagine each item being dissolve by the consumption of another party. These parties were the parts of my brain asking questions, telling me my nose itched etc… lol…you just made me remember that! I have not thought about overcoming the difficulty in so long… These meditations are great! I just scrubbed through them but the voices, I find, are what matters the most. I was part of a meditation group 11 years ago and there was a guy that had the most soothing voice and one drum and I would go so deep. Kudos!
Hi Lynn,
There is an incredible book out called the Inner Matrix, by Joey Klein. You can get it on Amazon – he has a 9 week meditation series at the end of the book. He also offers the meditation practice on line for free to listen to while you meditate to give you focus. I have been meditating every day for the last 8 months. It has truly changed my life. It helps me every day to show up in any given situation from a place of love, gratitude and compassion in everything I do.
By the way, we watched Forks Over Knives (Stu and Andrew recommended it to Rob) and we have been eating a vegan diet since we watched it! It was Rob’s suggestion! Amazing what a life threatening disease can do to you. The kids are not completely on board yet, but they are getting there.
Thanks for sending the link on cancer. I am looking forward to watching the 9 day series that starts today.
Thanks so much for all that you do! I love and miss you guys!
Ann,
It’s so great to hear from you. When I think of my very first introduction to meditation I think of you and your gift of the book “wherever you go, there you are” many, many years ago. So thank you for even more recommendations and for that very first introduction years ago. You are the best!