Mindfulness and meditation are gaining in popularity. The science that backs the benefits is becoming mainstream, launching new level of awareness for the general population. Being raised by hippies, meditation was always a part of "my world" yet knew that it wasn't a "normal" thing for my peers and their families.
I'd estimate that 80% of the mothers I work with identify self-care as the 1st area that needs their attention for their health and well-being. As that area gets attention, we identify the gaps and brainstorm ways to support her choices toward her ideal, happy and healthy Self. As women learn to tune into themselves to see those areas in a light that can support them (rather than just seeing the glaring gaps), meditation has proven a useful too.
There are A LOT of meditation apps, programs, courses, and methods. Recently, I heard feedback online in a Facebook feed where a mom was frustrated by her attempts to meditate. The thing is, you can't "do it wrong". She was trying a breath focused meditation and felt like it added pressure to breath a certain way which only added stress to how she was feeling instead of releasing it. My encouragement was to try a word, phrase, or sound instead of her breath. Start with 1 minute instead of trying for longer...it's a brain muscle that needs to be warmed up and like exercise, you wouldn't go for a run if you haven't run in 20 years, you'd start with a walk.
Regarding those pesky, interrupting thoughts, consider this perspective. You're currently living IN YOUR BODY and you have to stay connected to form. Imagine the mantra as a vehicle connecting to the Heavens, but our bodies need oxygen so our thoughts bring us back to Earth in an atmosphere our bodies can live in. We can notice and release our thoughts, return to the ship (mantra) connecting to the Divine and go again. Each experience building on the one before and over time, we can travel for longer with fewer breaks between. Increasing our capacity and stamina takes time...like the "pray without ceasing" practice. We return to worry, fear, fret, frustration less and less when we intentionally surrender, submit, participate and choose Love, trust, grace, patience, etc.
Mindful, intentional, present moment living forces Higher level of participation and awareness. Functioning with this greater awareness helps us to make wiser choices, releasing what is no longer serving us, our culture, our minds, our bodies, and family stories.
May we all become more gratefully aware this season.
I'd estimate that 80% of the mothers I work with identify self-care as the 1st area that needs their attention for their health and well-being. As that area gets attention, we identify the gaps and brainstorm ways to support her choices toward her ideal, happy and healthy Self. As women learn to tune into themselves to see those areas in a light that can support them (rather than just seeing the glaring gaps), meditation has proven a useful too.
There are A LOT of meditation apps, programs, courses, and methods. Recently, I heard feedback online in a Facebook feed where a mom was frustrated by her attempts to meditate. The thing is, you can't "do it wrong". She was trying a breath focused meditation and felt like it added pressure to breath a certain way which only added stress to how she was feeling instead of releasing it. My encouragement was to try a word, phrase, or sound instead of her breath. Start with 1 minute instead of trying for longer...it's a brain muscle that needs to be warmed up and like exercise, you wouldn't go for a run if you haven't run in 20 years, you'd start with a walk.
Regarding those pesky, interrupting thoughts, consider this perspective. You're currently living IN YOUR BODY and you have to stay connected to form. Imagine the mantra as a vehicle connecting to the Heavens, but our bodies need oxygen so our thoughts bring us back to Earth in an atmosphere our bodies can live in. We can notice and release our thoughts, return to the ship (mantra) connecting to the Divine and go again. Each experience building on the one before and over time, we can travel for longer with fewer breaks between. Increasing our capacity and stamina takes time...like the "pray without ceasing" practice. We return to worry, fear, fret, frustration less and less when we intentionally surrender, submit, participate and choose Love, trust, grace, patience, etc.
Mindful, intentional, present moment living forces Higher level of participation and awareness. Functioning with this greater awareness helps us to make wiser choices, releasing what is no longer serving us, our culture, our minds, our bodies, and family stories.
May we all become more gratefully aware this season.
