With 2020 slowly ebbing away, now is the perfect time to hit the reset button. Take a moment to reimagine and redefine your life. Learn to harness the higher power that lies within you and use it to guide you. Meditation is the mindset tool of note and it will encourage you to start a new chapter. Meditation will take you on a road trip that will traverse the inner you and set you on a course of exploration of your psyche. This journey will entail expanding your inner growth, allowing you to ultimately create the life you want.
Meditation is a highly regarded self-care practice. It is a natural process requiring you to search within yourself for the why in life. The ancients made the time to live more mindfully. Records show that they spent their days in contemplation and debate about the virtuous life, the state of the soul and spiritual growth. Meditation was primarily used as a spiritual tool to help deepen the understanding of the sacred and mystical energies. These days its application tends to be mostly secular, employed for relaxation, stress, pain and anxiety relieve. It is also touted as a mind-body holistic practice as an alternative to western medicine.
Today, it has finally dawned upon the collective that our hectic lifestyles are really just a futile practice, chasing after wind, where quantity trumps quality. All this has left us desolate, disillusioned and dissatisfied. The point of life is to live your best possible life. However, we get shackled to an economic maelstrom from birth, fed on the preposterous lie that a fulfilling life can only be measured in monetary terms. Old blue eyes crooned it right... do life your way. Staying true to yourself, to your inner essence and being authentic, that is priceless. A fulfilling life allows your authentic self to live life fully. Yes, that is the whole point, not just existing to make coinage even if it is bitcoins. The world is filled with wealthy people that have discovered that money does not automatically deliver overall wellbeing.
Attending to our inner lives is left wanting, as it is almost non-existent. A sad state that the enforced global lockdown glaringly exposed. Though conditions are not totally ideal today it is vital to carve out time for yourself to get to know the most important person, you. The strength you need to overcome obstacles and deal with the complexities of life, does not come from what is around you but it comes from within you. Meditation gives you access and allows you to tap into your inner landscape.
Meditation is a practice that profoundly affects every aspect of your life. It allows you to reconnect with yourself and gain access to your inner wisdom. Connecting with your soul allows you to live a full and meaningful life. Your soul is always guiding you towards wholeness. Meditation will help you let go of insecurities and enhance your confidence. This practice will restore balance in your life as you learn more about yourself and may reveal new ways you can expand your world. It is a mind and body practice that promotes calmness, increases focus and reduces stress. When practiced in conjunction with mindfulness it helps you to recognize and accept negative emotions. It also enhances physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, coping with illness, enhancing overall health and wellbeing. It may also reduce anxiety, depression and pain.
There is quite an array of meditation practices to choose from. Mindfulness meditation is my preferred choice. This practice uses the technique of mindfulness, to focus the mind on a specific object, thought or activity. It trains your attention and awareness to achieve a mentally clear, emotionally calm and stable state.
Meditation starting point:
You need train your attention, either through concentration or mindfulness.
I use a combination of both methods; this approach entails being detached from and non-judgemental of your thoughts but not aiming for your thoughts to cease. The practice of meditation is personal. You have the power to tailor your meditation practice technique to your needs. Do what works for you. Meditation can be done in the well-known lotus position, as well as these following positions; kneeling, sitting, lying down, standing, walking, as well as whilst doing a simple task, mindfully. Serenity is one of the mental qualities that arise during meditation. This feeling of tranquillity steadies the mind and brings it to a collected state. This will lead to the development of insight and wisdom.
It gives me great pleasure to share my favourite products that enhance my meditation practice with you. The products listed below has benefited my daily self-care practice immeasurably. After many years, the sight and smell of these various objects signal to my mind that it is ‘that’ time and I am able to slip into a meditative mode effortlessly. I hope the use of these objects also allows your mind to slow down in preparation. Having an established routine will help you get started and adhere to a consistent practice. Here is a sneak peek into my current routine.
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My diffuser is set to activate 30 minutes before I get up in the morning. I find that apart from killing airborne bacteria it imbues the air with a pleasant fresh smell that tingles the senses into a gentle awakening. I choose the essential oil for the day based on their therapeutic benefits according to my schedule and the corresponding aromatherapy benefit. In the morning I prefer using perk up scents that energize me for the day ahead, such as peppermint, lemon, orange and rosemary. In the evening I prefer more calming blends such as frankincense. There is a myriad of essential oil combinations for diffusers. You may be able to address various issues during meditation from stress to anxiety. The diffuser is not only limited to meditation, as it is also beneficial for overall health.
Wax Candles & Electric candles
In the morning I prefer my electric candles for ease of use, I am after all still waking up and definitely not going to risk, starting my day dripping wax on my favourite throw or starting little fires. For my evening practice I prefer using a wax candle as I am more alert, have more time at my disposal to deal with any mishaps. I have found that the mesmerising flicker of the flame enhances my meditation.
I select my incense according to the mood and intention I wish to set. The most common type of incense is found in stick form; however, you can also find it in cone form. The incense burner is not to be overlooked, apart from catching the ash safely, it forms part of the aesthetic and sets the tone, something an old ashtray cannot do. Ensure that your candles and incense are placed away from flammable items in a well-ventilated space. Incense is a simple yet efficient way to transform the ambience of a space. The fragrance of the incense will pervade the space and bring a sense of harmony to it. Serenity and peace are the feelings incense evoke in us, bringing the sacred and mystical to our practice. The scent creates an uplifting spiritual atmosphere which is soothing, calming to the senses and helps deepen your meditation. There is a plethora of incense to choose from, each with its unique healing properties and distinctive scent. Here follows some of my favourites. Sandalwood incense is purported to transport you into deep meditation and its woody fragrance is the epitome of zen. Frankincense is my favourite incense and it is said to foster a meditative state as well as promote the feeling of serenity and happiness. Lavender is another popular incense renowned for its relaxation and sleep promoting properties. Give lemongrass a try as it is an energising scent that encourages calm reflection.
Crystals are known for raising your vibrations and affecting your consciousness positively. They are purported to cleanse and purify your energy field as well as improve concentration and mood. Usage will allow you to enhance your meditation experience. Decide the quality you want to enhance during meditation and choose the crystal accordingly. It is best to hold the selected crystal in your hands, left hand preferably as the left hand is viewed as your receiving hand, or place it on or close to your body according to the crystals designated usage.
Hope you found some guidance in my routine. Meditation is a personal practice and hopefully you found snippets of inspiration that you can apply to your own meditation routine. The daily practice of meditation is an important activity for releasing negative thoughts and self-limiting beliefs. Creating and maintaining a positive loving environment starts within your mind. Meditation allows you to connect with your higher self and your intuition. View it as nourishment for your soul and make sure you get a generous helping of calm, peace and clarity of mind by practicing daily.
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