Do you find it difficult to sit still? Forget meditation, in general.
It is understandable that in today's on-the-go world we find it difficult to sit and invite ourselves to relax, let alone meditate. I have found this to be the real reason so many tell me they have trouble staying awake during meditation. We push our bodies to the extreme daily! We are so demanding on our body to remain outwardly productive throughout the day, it is no wonder we find ourselves completely stressed out.
Our exhale is as important as our inhale.
The concept is simple - If we are constantly doing-doing-doing we will eventually reach a point where we can no longer do. It is at this point that our body begins to communicate with us. This comes in the forms of stress, illness, anxiety, restlessness and so on. Have you ever considered that these symptoms listed are a form of communication? If only there was a technique to relax, listen reflect, and rediscover the love we have been keeping from ourselves ... :).
How to Exhale
"Ok Mr. smarty-pants, So tell us.. HOW!?" I'm glad you asked.
- Create 10 minutes each morning dedicated to you. Invite your body to sit in a comfortable seated position, close the eyes and notice the sensation of your deep full breath. Don't worry, I will give you permission to be selfish for 10 minutes. Trust me, the world will thank you in the long-run.
- A powerful morning practice is great way to alleviate daily stress. The "Lovingkindness" guided meditation may just be the tool you have been seeking to rediscover the joy and love in your day and in your relationships. (To check out my guided Lovingkindness Meditation, click the link below!)
- Sitting still is a practice. We don't have to sit for hours or days at a time to meditate. Begin a meditation practice of 5-10 minutes! Turn on some easy music (or silence) and enjoy the peaceful moment, the peaceful breath... and then the next one.. and the next one. In time you will want to meditate for longer. We must first plant the seed for abundant fruits and flowers to grow.
- Be easy on yourself. Sometimes in our practice we feel distracted. Sometimes we feel tired or bored. That is totally normal, again, be easy on yourself! You are taking time for you, This is a beautiful gift you are giving yourself. Breath in, breath out, smile - repeat.
With Love
At the end of the day, human beings are here to connect. In order to do that we must first re-learn to connect to ourselves before we can connect with others. We must re-learn to embrace our pain before we can heal our pain (or others pain). We must re-learn how to show ourselves love and be with ourselves before we can fully love others.
So I invite you to sit with yourself in stillness. Connect with yourself. Embrace your experience. Love yourself. You are worth it.