I Am

Before I begin today’s post, why don’t you check out my feature on Jewelry Making Journal. 

I love being featured here because this is a very valuable jewelry site. Rena Klingenberg has great ideas and is very welcoming of new talent. If you are interested in jewelry and all its facets, this is the place for you.

Now on to the business of blogging…

In a past post, I spoke a little about meditation and added some resources that might be of use to you. Today, I want to discuss meditation again, but show you that meditation does not have to be a difficult thing.

Most people think that you must spend hours immersed in meditation. Another belief is that you have to study the art of meditation in order to meditate. And then, there are the ones who say, “Nope, I just cannot still my mind for five minutes, let alone an hour!”

Like many things that we love to do, what meditation needs for it to work is practice. Remember when you first rode a bike? Unless you are an athletic phenom, I’m sure that it took you more than just one try to keep your bike from falling over. I know it was like that for me.

It is the same thing with meditation. There are people who are able to get it easily while there are others who struggle. If it is something you really wish to add to your life for your health and well-being, don’t quit! Keep trying because it does get easier and one day you will find that it has become second Nature for you. You’ll wonder why you struggled.

When I was first initiated, I bought my offerings of fruit and flowers and went through the process. I thought that once I received my mantra and had my one-on-one with my Guru, I would be done. “That’s it! Now I can meditate.” I couldn’t have been farthest from the truth! The work was only beginning!

I will discuss the process I went through in a future post.

Easy Meditation

You do not have to go my route and attain your own mantra, called a diksha or guru mantra. I did because I wanted to learn Mantra Yoga meditation and follow and learn the Hindu philosophy of life and mantra Yoga meditation. There are many other ways that you can meditate and get the benefits that come with it.

For me, when I cannot make the time to devote the necessary two hours a day, once in the A.M, once in the P.M., I do quick bursts throughout the day beginning when I open my eyes.

I begin with my breath and find a comfortable rhythm. Then, I start repeating the words I Am. As I do this, I begin to add words that are positive. For example, I am creative. 

In the beginning it may be difficult to come up with words, but as you learn about yourself it will become easier.

From the I am statements, I move on to longer phrases such as I am grateful for my daughters. And, I am grateful for my grandsons.

These quick bursts take about five minutes. You can set the time aside and create a schedule. But, the cool thing about them is that you can do them at anytime you feel the need. If you come across a particularly unsettling person or situation, it is very simple to just repeat the statement necessary to calm yourself and move on unscathed.

What is most important is your breathing. You should maintain a steady flow, in and out of the nose. Both of these, the affirmations and the breath work in tandem and are a great alternative when you just cannot fit two hours of meditation into your schedule. 

As you get better, you can start adding music to your quick bursts and then, maybe add incense or some other form of aromatherapy. This is just a starting point that you can develop in a way that best suits your lifestyle. I believe in the adage, it’s not about quantity, it’s about quality! Who knows, the effects will be so helpful that you may begin to look forward to the bursts and add more time to them.

Meditation Is for Everyone

Doing the quick meditations will also help uplift you and bring to your consciousness all of the wonderful things you are and possess. It is important to reassure ourselves of our value and our importance because we are valuable and important! We cannot let circumstances and people take anything away from us.

Meditation should be taught as a way of life to better ourselves and our world.

With this simple way of meditation, I just quelled every single one of the excuses that some give for not meditating.

Time- 10 minutes out of 24 hours

Study- It is about you and how wonderful and precious you are

Stillness of Mind- No need for that. You are telling truths about yourself that if you do not know, you will find out about.

So, get to it! Meditation is a wonderful stress reliever and teacher.

 

So, what do you think?