Making Space For Things That Matter
And meditation for everyone this week
“How can I maintain this post-meditation feeling in my daily life?”
It’s a question I am asked a lot. It’s a great feeling, but the true value of meditation does not lie in chasing that post-meditation afterglow. We are practicing so that we have more fullness in our daily lives. Meditation helps us navigate life’s twists and turns with more grace. It offers us the capacity to show up in our lives more fully, to find more moments of connection, wisdom, meaning, and even bliss, in life itself.
The key is consistency.
Having a consistent meditation practice sets you up to be more present for life’s most important moments, to respond to circumstances thoughtfully, to sleep better, to live with more ease, and to have more compassion. Sounds great, right? But things don’t magically change after your first meditation any more than they would after your first gym session or your first cooking class or language lesson. To see a lasting change we have to put in the effort and keep showing up.
It’s also helpful to be purposeful about staying present as you go about your daily life.
Work mindfulness into your day. Try to listen with complete attention to what someone has to say, and then try to maintain that state of active listening for the whole conversation. It’s hard to do that. When you see something beautiful, stop and take it in. Savor flavors, colors, and aromas. Taste your food. Feel the warmth of the coffee mug. Find all the colors in the flames of the fire. Look into someone’s eyes.
When something comes up and you feel yourself getting stressed, pause and notice where you feel tension in your body and see if you can release it, or even soften it. Take a few deep breaths. If you find yourself in a situation where you are unkind to yourself or others, direct some compassion where it needs to go, ask for forgiveness if necessary, and begin again.
Practice being open to each moment and see what happens.
Life just might get a little better and more meaningful, especially if you practice.
This week our meditation will get you moving in that direction. Recorded mediations are usually reserved for paid subscribers but I have dropped it below for everybody this week. Enjoy- it’s one of my favorite ways to meditate.
Making Space for Things That Matter
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please leave a comment below to let me know how you feel about the post or the meditation. You are also invited to suggest any topics you’d like to see me explore in this space.
If there is anyone you can think of who might appreciate this post, please share. I would be very grateful to you!
Thanks again. Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
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