To put it simply, meditation is one of the biggest acts of kindness Iāve done for myself.
Itās something I look forward to every morning.
Itās precious time just for meāfor being present with whatās going on in my mind, and how that impacts my actions and emotions (and how I treat others) throughout the day.
Here are 3 big ways meditation has impacted my life. I hope this inspires you to give it a try (or make it a consistent form of self-care) if you havenāt already.
1. It helped me prove I can create a positive habit and stick to it.
Over the years, Iāve started and stopped projects and goals so many times. From running to writing in a journal, there were times I did things that were good for me often and times when I didnāt do them at all for months (or years!). Sometimes I feared that completely finishing something or being someone who fearlessly went after things that brought her joy just wasnāt in my DNA. (Sometimes I still fear that!)
After dealing with some challenging bouts of anxiety on the subway, I realized I needed to find something to help me face the day feeling a little calmer.
So I started meditating a few times a month, then a few times a week. Eventually I decided to do it every day.
I wish I could tell you exactly what caused me to consistently make it a part of my life then. It think it was a combination of wanting to feel more groundedāand also Tom had started meditating daily so I had to keep up, ha!
Either way, me, a lifetime procrastinator (or so it feels at times) created a habit thatās now simply a part of my morning routine. (BTW: I havenāt had anxiety like I mentioned above since Iāve been meditating on the regular.)
Creating this habit also helped me to make way for other healthy daily habitsālike writing down my goals and working out.
Itās one of those simple lessons that can be hard to implement: When I focus and set aside the time, I can make things happen for myself. Woot, woot. (Pssst, so can you!)
2. Itās my daily reminder to judge less.
I like guided meditations, so I do the Calm appās Daily Calm. Each one usually begins with focusing on the breath. Inevitably, my focus starts to drift to my thoughts. One of my favorite lessons that narrator Tamara Levitt mentions often is that thatās ok. Rather than judging yourself for getting caught up in thought, instead she urges you to gently guide yourself back to the breath.
Isnāt that such a great lesson for life? I think itās easy to judge ourselves and not even be conscious of it. (Same goes with judging others.) Slowly building that awareness is part of the magic of meditation.
Meditation helps me build those āmusclesā that pipe up louder than the critical thoughts to say, āHey, youāre doing ok! Be kind to yourself.ā
3. Itās like hitting an instant refresh button for my brain.
Do you ever have days where your brain feels foggy? Or you just feel super low energy? I often feel that way when Iām traveling, in a new environment or interacting with a ton of people for extended periods of time. (Yep, Iām definitely more introverted!)
All I need is a few minutes sitting alone in quiet, listening to a guided meditation and by the time itās over, itās like a heaviness has been lifted from my head & shoulders.
Meditation isnāt a cure-all, but itās my go-to tool when I need to feel more like myself.
Interested in giving it a try? Start with a shorter meditation, like this 5-minute one from Brooklyn-based yoga instructor Gabrielle Stratton. Find a comfy, quiet spot (or put on headphones), close your eyes, take some deep breaths and hit play. Even a 3-minute meditation can have an impact on how you feel in a day.
If you already meditate, Iād love to know what apps you use, if there are any special ways you like to meditate, times of day, candles you lightā¦ give me all the deets!
Sending you love today. xoxo, H
Photograph by Carrington Kingļ»æ