What a waste of time and energy we expend! Most of our stamina during the day is spent on things/activities that don’t really matter. We are bombarded with pressures to accomplish this, acquire that, and measure up to someone else’s standard.
We go to bed a night with our minds racing of what yet we need to do, feeling that whatever we have accomplished is not enough. Our poor souls are flooded with the misguided notion we are “not enough”.
When in fact we are enough. We are created perfectly, sent to this earth to accomplish our individual missions on our personal journeys. Why don’t we remember who we really are and why we are really here?
Sometimes we need to taka a vacation to “get away”…get away from our normal routine to put things in bigger perspective. When we can “get away”, all the items on the “to do” list seem a little less important.
With new surroundings, different people, and diverse milieu, we are forced out of our rut and jolted into a new awareness, like a breath of fresh air. The pressures gripping us release, our shoulders may drop, and we exhale experiencing true peace.
What gives you peace? How do you maintain an attitude of calm, keeping you life centered amid the pulling pressures without jumping on a plane to “find your beach”?
I think we need to carve out “beach time” during our busy days. Meditation is like a mini vacation during each day providing that needed “get away”.
For meditation and prayer, find what works for you. Carve out a time of day that lends itself to your schedule and pick a form of connection that complements your personality and lifestyle. This communion time can take on many different forms. Let’s look at six ways to add meditation to your daily schedule.
- Traditional meditation: I start by concentrating on three things: quieting my mind, finding the joy within, and opening myself to guidance from my Source.
- Meditative walking: Choose a natural path outdoors with trees, foliage, meadows, birds, or water. Instead of mulling over things bugging you, hone in on the details of nature.
- Listening to music: Rather than letting the tunes lilt in the background as you do things, sit with the sole intention of listening. Do nothing else. Choose music that improves your mood.
- Guided meditation: Recordings of guided meditations can direct your thoughts. For some, that direction helps keep the mind from wandering off track.
- Yoga: Part exercise, part meditation, yoga connects the body and soul through quieting the mind while building flexibility and strength.
- Labyrinths: While walking the prescribed routes in mazes to avoid the mental activity of deciding on where to direct step, you can free your mind to be open to another voice.
In the beginning, delving into spiritual practice may feel awkward. Start small with fifteen minutes per day. Carve out a special time away from your normal mental and physical routine. Sit, breathe, relax. Just be.
Take a daily vacation, find your beach, find your peace.
