I recently picked up a book about successful people and one of the think almost all of them have in common is that they meditate. So I figured "why not?" and decided to give it a try. To get started i downloaded the Headspace App. How hard could it be?
The first challenge is finding time. It's only 10 minutes, but there always seems to be something more pressing. So far I've been able to meditate 4 times in about 8 days. It's recommended that you find the same time each day, first thing in the morning, your commute on the train, at lunch, etc. But so far, I haven't figured out when is best. The good news is that I've noticed 10 minutes actually goes by pretty quickly. Once you start, it doesn't take all that long.
The sessions are lead by Andy Puddicomb, a Brit with a pleasing and soothing accent. One of the surprising takeaways for me is that meditation isn't about removing thoughts from your mind, it's about not trying to control them. I don't know about you, but my mind is full of thoughts. So removing that pressure makes it much easier. During todays session I thought about having to go to the bathroom, writing this article, the bag of chips on the table, and much more. It doesn't mean I "failed", in fact since I was aware of these things, I was just "observing" my minds activities.
This awareness and being "in the moment" is something we can transfer to other times of day. Not 24/7, but when eating, tasting the food and thinking about where it came from. Or when driving, I'll notice the branches of the trees. And at night, when I'm up worrying, I'll practice the breathing exercises and it seems to help me doze off again.
Is meditation the secret I've been looking for to get my life in order? I don't know, but I'm willing to keep at it for a few more sessions to find out.
