#Microblog Mondays 182: Meditation
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I’ve been thinking a lot about meditation lately. I downloaded 10% Happier while it was on sale, though I haven’t started reading it. I downloaded two apps: Calm and Breathe. And then I just… stopped.
I mean, I think about meditation all the time. But I haven’t started it yet.
My interest in meditation was piqued by a review of another book, especially this description of meditation: “[it] is not like other goal-oriented tasks. Rather, it is about getting away from the self.” Who wouldn’t like to take a small break from themselves every once in a while? But then I continued reading the article and it all got very muddy inside my mind. I don’t want that kind of break from myself.
Do you meditate regularly?
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18 comments
I don’t meditate regularly, but there have been times when I’ve been stressed, and found it very useful. I use Calm, and should probably do it more often. Even five minutes can help.
I know I should meditate but I frequently say I just “can’t” meditate – ie, I am unable to relax enough to do it. This makes me an ideal candidate for meditation, though. I think if I meditated I would sleep better, and feel less antsy all round. The few classes I’ve been to haven’t been very good – I think it all depends on having a great trainer and being introduced to it properly. Can we teach ourselves to meditate, through apps like that one? I don’t know, I’d be very skeptical….
I was in a yoga class on Saturday when the instructor guided us to a 10 mins meditation. I don’t meditate nor have I read much so I was unaware. He later asked us how we felt and I told that I dosed off. ha! his response was letting go of the thoughts but still keeping the mind alert. I was confused but I am also intrigued. 🙂
I love meditation. Just find one that’s right for you. Some people like guided ones, (great if you’re just starting out) I like nature sounds. It’s not really about getting away from yourself. To me, it’s about quieting the mind. Shutting out the clutter. It actually gets you more in touch with you… the real you that’s unaffected by all of the noise in our lives. I find that it makes me more focused , positive & calmer. It can take as few as 5 – 10 minutes but the benefits can last. There are a ton of free meditations online to try.
I don’t. I always enjoyed the quiet time/meditation segment at the end of every yoga class, when I went. I have the Calm app on my phone, and I did the free 10-day intro a while back. Just haven’t made it a habit. (I also downloaded the Headspace app to try but haven’t yet.)
Dh bought & read that book. I haven’t read it yet. He’s got a sequel out now, “Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics.” 😉
Proper meditation, no. I really should as I benefit from it so much, but I just can’t seem to get into a regular routine with it.
Walking meditations, though, I do regularly. Given the amount of walking I do, it’s fairly easy to incorporate into my routine. I also like mini meditations. (https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-18510/5-mini-meditations-you-can-do-in-1-minute.html) They allow me some of the benefits as I really struggle with the full hour.
I intend to. #roadtohell
Does getting lost in thought count? Lol
As a life-long insomniac, I swear by the Calm app’s sleep meditations. I think they were the only way I got any sleep after losing Quinn – without them my mind just wouldn’t shut up! I’ve also tried to incorporate 10 minutes of meditation into my day when going through treatments. Just trying to teach my mind to relax seems helpful.
I practiced transcendental meditation for about eight years and found it helpful and relaxing. Then, after the baby died, I could not stand going down into the silence. I couldn’t take being in my own head. I haven’t tried again in years. I think I would need a coach or someone to help to do it again.
From what I can tell (from just reading articles and listening to Youtube videos) there are 2 different types of mediation. They are very old practices and are beneficial in several ways. The Eastern or yogi type mediation is where you pick a mantra or word to focus on, such as “breathe” or “success” and you just think that word over and over for 5ish minutes and you don’t think about your to-do lists or your problems. It is often suggested that you empty your mind. I don’t like this idea and I don’t recommend it.
The other way, that most Christians do it, is you pick a piece of scripture or a line out of the Bible like “Be still and know that I am God.” which is Psalm 46:10. You might repeat that, or just think about what that means on every level of your life (spiritual, physical, mental). Be open to God and possibly pray to Him about what this piece of scripture means to you at this time in your life. Ask God if He wants you to learn anything today and see if He impresses something upon you. I do this every morning for about 2-10 minutes. It is very fulfilling.
I used to meditate more regularly but haven’t been recently. I still pray – but it’s the quick while you’re going about your day kind rather than the sitting contemplatively kind. I’d like to start doing yoga again too. That seems to come with some good meditation time for me.
I want to meditate, and have thought about some of those apps, but then I am so, so bad at turning off or dismissing my thoughts. Which is the point of meditation. I think maybe I would be a little less spirally if I meditated more regularly. I am starting to do more yoga type exercise again though, which I think counts a little bit? I’m also keeping a gratitude log in my bullet journal, and that’s a tiny slice of reflection, which is close…maybe?
I meditate daily on biblical scriptures and talk to God first thing in the morning, before bed, and throughout the day as needed. I also tune in and listen for His voice.
I have always found meditation challenging because it is a big struggle to silence my mind (read: paranoia, obsessions, things that happened 15 years ago!). But it can be rewarding once you get the hang of it. I had a teacher back in school who showed us some excellent tricks to reach the meditation plane faster.
SAME! I really want to get into meditation- but it’s like I’m afraid to start.
Sigh.
I have said I want to meditate but then never start. I think it is something I should do. I think it is something I could do. Begs the question, why don’t I?
Yes, I do. Half an hour a day. And when I can (turns out to be every four years or so, lol) I like to do a ten day silent meditation retreat in the Buddhist Vipassana instruction. This is the only thing that has kept me sane through ten years of recurrent miscarriage and infertility, through the two year process of surrogacy, through the birth of our child, through the tough tough tough toddler years, when we realised it was so tough because he was autistic, and that later I realised I was also autistic, which is why the whole thing was so much of an utter struggle for me. Without meditation I would categorically be either sectioned, self-harming or dead. It is by no means a panacea for suffering but it keeps me this side of sane, and functional.