Do you ever wonder when the last time you felt truly relaxed was? Take a second, and check in. Is you jaw clenched? What about those shoulders? Go ahead, let your belly relax, take a deep breath, and just for the duration of this post, stay un-clenched. I'll check back in at the end so you can see how you did.
I have been meditating for about 5 years, but sometimes it just hits different. Usually, those times happen when I'm outside in my meditation teacher's treehouse listening to the sound of her voice and the birds chirping...while swinging in a hammock. I can smell the flowers and nature. I can feel the slight breeze. I am heavy and relaxed, yet weightless. My mind starts to move more slowly. If you can picture "monkey brain" — thoughts moving in faster than the last one passes — deep meditation is the opposite of that. Thoughts float in slowly, and they float out. I can see each thought for what it is — just a thought. I don't have to attach to it, or become it; I just watch. It's like watching the fog in my mind roll out to clear skies. Then, creativity comes through. If my thoughts were more doom-oriented before (hello, anxiety), they shift to become more at ease and colorful. Sometimes, memories appear, and usually they're the nice ones, like of me playing in the sandbox as a kid. If I could narrow this feeling down to one word, it would be "acceptance". All is well, just as it is in that moment. There is no desire for more or less.
Now, I must disclaim, it's not always like that. Sometimes, the dog barks, the load of laundry is whispering, "hey, when are you going to fold me??", and, shoot, the cats are hungry, I get a text from someone, and...you get the point. There are absolutely days that the monkey-mind just wants to swing on those monkey bars and take me for a ride. If that's where you're at in your meditation journey, DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED. I've been there. Shit, I'm still there, but that feeling of acceptance is much easier to get to than it was five years ago.
The mind is truly powerful, and you can find that peace with practice and repetition. I also want to let you in on a secret: you don't have to meditate laying down or sitting cross-legged on the floor. You can move. Maybe turn on some music and dance, do yoga, get immersed in something creative, go for a walk and turn off your phone, really feel your feet on the ground, or even eat while being fully focused on your senses. Any time you're fully immersed in what you're doing, your brain waves shift, and you are meditating.
So, tell me, how are you feeling? Is your jaw relaxed? Shoulders soft? Is your belly un-clenched? If you're thinking, "darn, I totally tightened back up", don't be hard on yourself. It's a practice, and it doesn't look perfect all the time. Your best is the best, and that looks different moment to moment.
Go get em, tiger. You got this.
If you're looking for some guided meditations, head to www.thestillness.co/podcast and don't hesitate to reach out. I'm happy to work with you 1:1 to cater meditation to your specific goals.
With love and shining light,
Alex
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