Meditation and Mindfulness

“In an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still.” ~ Pico Iyer

Learn to practice Meditation and Mindfulness in your own way.  Be still, be present, and connect with Self.  Meditation and Mindfulness have the potential to be a deeply meaningful practice that nourishes you in ways that ‘thinking’ and words cannot.

Go Slow. Be Still. Do Less.

Slowing down, doing less and being still can feel like an uphill battle in our culture.  I’ve learned from my clients over the years that “FOMO” or “Fear of Missing Out” is, indeed, very real.  I think of FOMO as a by-product of the media and the social media age, where curated images are peddled as “real life”. 

In addition to our own “FOMO,” we often experience cultural backlash for simply saying “no,” declining invitations and rejecting chronic overstimulation.  Making different choices often causes others to question their own choices, and that often makes other people uncomfortable.

We practice meditation and mindfulness to be present for the only moment that exists — the right now.  Or because we long to show up for Self and be more powerful in our own life.  Or because we know somewhere deep down, “There’s got to be more than…this.”

In an age of extreme distraction and frantic activity, we are more depressed, more anxious, and more lacking a sense of meaning in our lives than ever before.  Our minds, hearts, and spirits are rarely in the same place as our toes. You can choose to slow down and do less.

I offer you JOMO 🙂  “The Joy of Missing Out.”

Come As You Are 

Meditation and mindfulness practices are not one-size-fits-all.  A meditative practice can be explored:

• Alone or in a group
• Lying down, sitting, standing or walking
• Outdoors or indoors
• Silently or loudly
• With stillness or movement

Regardless of your approach(es), meditation is an invitation to connect with Self…and through Self, with everything greater than Self.  No special clothes, poses or equipment required.  It’s portable.  We notice what we notice.  And we approach Self with no judgment and lots of curiosity.  

In therapy we have the option to incorporate meditation practices that further and deepen your work.

The Benefits of Meditation and Mindfulness 

The benefits of meditation and mindfulness are well established in various scholarly articles and referenced in self-help pieces.  Research shows that meditation and mindfulness reduce depression, anxiety, physical pain, and insomnia.  These practices can strengthen our immune system, and improve countless other aspects of our physical, emotional, and spiritual experience.

Meditation and mindfulness can also offer us a path to greater spiritual connection, to knowing and honoring our truest nature, and to trusting Self.  

“Go slow.  Or don’t go.”
~ Yours truly