Active “Meditation”
I can’t meditate. Not for want of trying. My shelves are full of great books by Jon Kabot-Zinn, Depak Chopra, and other professional “meditators”. I have CD’s, DVD’s and even some old cassette tapes (that should tell you how long I’ve been trying this.) And I’m still trying because during the time I spend trying to meditate I get some great thinking done. Maybe some people can empty their minds and come away refreshed and rested. For me it’s free thinking time. I found I was working so hard trying to NOT think, dragging my mind back to the state of “Om” that it was not at all restful. Better, for me, was free floating thought. Whatever came into my mind came in. My only rule was “NO Loitering” Let it come in, let it go, and let the next thought move through. Sometimes the thoughts were as mundane as a reminder to put the clothes in the dryer. Others were ideas for a blog, or a thought about a friend I hadn’t talked to for a while. Sometimes old ideas came around again for a re-look. The main thing was to let them in and out freely. When my “meditation” time was up (15 min. usually) I frequently found my mind clearer with some good ideas or new projects in the forefront without the anxiety I felt after trying to “meditate” with an “empty” mind.
My point is this. There is no right or wrong way to “meditate”. I personally like the term “daydream” better – an old fashioned term for the New Age “meditation”. The point is to get out of the everyday fray of our lives. It’s a time out from the noise around us. We need to take time everyday to listen to our bodies, to our minds, to the things we can’t hear or see because we are too distracted by everything going on around us and the the things we “have to” get done. If you can visualize a quiet snowfall or a gently waving palm tree on a beach and “empty”your mind for a 15 minute mini-vacation go for it. Meditation works well for some people. If you can’t – close the door to your office, find a quiet corner in your house, take a walk – however and wherever, you can put out the “do not disturb” sign for a few minutes and let the thoughts begin. If a negative thought or a worry enters your mind let it go and make room for the next free floating idea. The point is not to dwell on it. Picture thought coming in on a wave and washing back out. Worried about taking too much time? Set a timer or a gentle alarm/alert on your phone to bring you back home after your 15 minute retreat. Lie down or sit up, cross your legs or don’t cross your legs, just be comfortable, breathe in and out, close your eyes and relax. Then listen. It’s that easy. Try it. You might like it !