What I Learned from Meditating for 60 Days And Counting
Navigating through a year of challenges and constant changes forced me to seek ways to cope better with stress and I committed myself to the practice of meditation, knowing it is truly beneficial, having felt the difference myself and the array of scientifically proven benefits out there.
It felt difficult at first, to be still, to listen to myself, to pay attention to the aches and pains, physically and emotionally. But I always felt a sense of release during my practice, providing me with a safe haven amidst all the noise out there. No matter whatever life throws at me, I know that there is this quiet space I can retreat to, and I can return to balance again.
It’s painful to realise that in our modern society, so many of us tune out of our bodies and learnt to endure pain, and avoid issues or emotions that needs to be processed in order to move forward. I myself have gone deep down this path, and I found myself experiencing burnout over and over again, repeating unhealthy cycles of behaviour that I was not aware of.
Meditation taught me patience, compassion and allowed me to move through the day and carry myself in a more gentle way. Two weeks into my daily practice, I felt so renewed and peaceful that it became a natural motivation for me to continue meditating and wanting to share my joy and growth with others.
“It is not what you find, but that you are looking.” — Deborah Norris
This line has stuck with me after many repeats and listens. It is the mere seeking, paying attention, staying curious and open that makes the big difference. It doesn’t matter what we find, through our practice, we will be able to learn to accept whatever comes up. But it is powerful to have this sense of awareness knowing what is going on with yourself, your body, and to make the necessary adjustments in your life.
And sometimes, we might have to look deeper than the surface. I never realised how much was buried in me until I meditated for long periods, up to sessions of 50 minutes where I felt like I could access my unconscious, and it began speaking to me. I found it especially effective when I have listened to some inspiring talks, interviews beforehand, marinating my mind with empowering beliefs that I want to take on and then integrating them with a body experience during meditation!
I encourage you to give meditation a try, especially if you have been dealing with anxieties, stress or just wanting to live better. Approach it with a curious mind, open heart. It touches my heart to see these good and life-changing habits passed on to others around me.
One friend of mine shared her experience of being sceptical at first as a ‘logical left brain’ person, but now regularly practices meditation after seeing the positive effects on herself and how it helped her to manage challenging situations at work better. Instead of reacting with anger, she was able to feel compassion for her colleagues and the people around her. These little shifts are truly the things that matter.
If we all live with more compassion, self-awareness and joy, wouldn’t the world be a better place? And one powerful tool to achieve that is simply by meditating. And it doesn’t have to be complicated. Play with it. Many people think it’s difficult to just be ‘sitting there and doing nothing.’ The whole concept is to learn to observe yourself, experiment with what works for you and through meditation, discover what it means to feel at ease and be attuned to ourselves.
