Meditation and Mindfulness

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 tend to think of FOMO as a by-product of the Social Media Age, where curated images are force-fed to the unsuspecting as though it is “real life.” Everyone else has a somehow better life in pictures than could ever possibly be real.

In addition to our own “FOMO,” we often experience cultural backlash for simply saying “no,” politely declining invitations, plans, and chronic overstimulation in favor of doing less and “being” more.  Making different choices often causes others to question their own.  And that can make people uncomfortable.

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

We practice meditation and mindfulness in order to be present for the only moment that exists — the right now. Or because we long to show up for Self and be 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 levels of activity, we are depressed, anxious, and lacking meaning in our lives. Our minds, hearts, and spirits are rarely in the same place as our toes. You can choose to slow down, do less and simply notice…what you notice.

Come As You Are

A meditation and mindfulness practice is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Some people meditate alone while others meditate in group. Meditating in nature can feel essential for some. Others opt for their favorite couch or chair. Some gravitate toward stillness and silence. Some folks prefer motion, movement, and vocalization. Regardless of your approach, meditation is an invitation to Self, and then, to everything greater than Self.

Best of all, no special clothes or poses or equipment is required. It’s portable. We simply “Sit.” Or walk. Or stand. And notice what we notice. Grief, restlessness, thoughts, anxiety, “Am I doing this right?” We make room for all that presents itself. Often, we return our focus to a single point of awareness – the breath, the bottom of the belly, an imagined blank blackboard, a sound.  Always back to a single point of awareness.  This is the practice.

The effects of meditation and mindfulness are in the moment and cumulative. Each time we “Sit” (or walk or stand) we are a bit closer, connected and known, to Self. With consistent practice, it is possible to become more connected than not.

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. 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 expressing our truest nature, and to trusting Self as a manifestation of the Divine. Meditation and Mindfulness have the potential to be a deeply meaningful practice that nourishes you in ways that have no words.

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