My second formal project was establishing a meditation practice into my life. (You can read about my first project here. I’d also suggest you read the About section and this piece here in order to get a general idea about this blog.) This post is going to tell you the story why and how I achieved it. And I think it’s also kind of a review on this amazing “tool” with the eyes of a newbie.
Okay. Let’s start. (:
Not a very long time ago, if I heard the word ‘meditation’, I would think of orange dressed shaolin monks, sitting in lotus posture, eyes closed, trying to feel the Chi (whatever it means). And of course, they would occasionally levitate. It’s common sense in Western cultures that this is the way you do this, right? Not to mention that widely accepted view that it’s a complete waste of time and you must be a Buddhist (but at least nuts) in order to practice this nonsense.
Then, at the end of the last year I had a pretty rough period in my life (In case you’re interested, check here.) I was very stressed out and was on the look for something that could help me tackling it. Once, I was browsing online for some guided relaxations and somehow I came across an MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) page. I didn’t really know the difference between relaxation and meditation at the time, so I gave it a try.
Then, I would read more and more about the topic. I can’t really express how surprised I was about the effects of meditation on the brain. I started to have the feeling that this was the light at the end of the tunnel. So I stuck with it and practiced day after day. I tried all kinds of guided meditation practices, such as sitting meditation with breath awareness, loving kindness, body scan and so on. Their length would differ between 8-15 minutes.
After 2 or 3 weeks of daily practice I felt definitely more relaxed and calm. (I didn’t know for sure whether or not it was the effect of meditation only, but I was convinced enough to keep practicing.)
As a next step, I undertook a free 8 week MBSR course. With the help of this course, I’ve stretched my daily meditation practice to 25-30 minutes and I’ve learnt a lot more about mindfulness. (And I’ve become even more curious about it.)
Today, I know that my “levitating monk” idea on meditation couldn’t really be further from truth. I understand now that meditation, putting it very simply, is a way to improve concentration and mental clarity and it can be practiced by anyone. Actually, I would strongly suggest you try it, too.
Now, I’ve been practicing for a little bit more than 3 months (6 days a week in average), and I don’t have any more doubts about its perks. Not only in tackling stress but getting (re)connected with yourself and the present moment. The very moment you live in.
“Meditation can reintroduce you to the part that’s missing.” Russell Simmons
I know of course, that I’ve just started this journey and I’ve a lot more to explore about it, so I keep going. I’m pretty sure that this practice provides a very good base for achieving mental health and a happier life in general. I’ll post updates on my “progress” later. In the meantime I would really like to hear about your insights and, possibly, personal experiences on meditation.
So, that was brief story of me establishing a daily meditation practice. Hope you find it interesting. Thanks for reading and check back later. Cheers.
A project called life 