Meditation, Mind & Body

Those who know me know I’m a thinker. I like to think I’m a deep thinker, but mostly it’s just noise up there. Constant chatter and the occasional catchy song (most recently: “Oh My God” by Adele).

When I first started meditating, I expected it to change my relationship to my mind. What I didn’t expect was how it would change my relationship with my body.

I’m learning to be a passive observer of how my thoughts and emotions show up in my body. I’m noticing when I feel at peace and where I’m holding tension. I’m practicing what Elizabeth Gilbert might call “full-body” decisions. And I’m listening in a new way.

Over time, meditation has become a critical step in learning to trust myself.

I am still VERY new to the world of meditation, but if you’re interested in giving it a try, here are a few things that have helped me:

• It doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment. If you only have five minutes before a meeting, take those five minutes to breathe and center yourself.

• Take what you need. I like to filter by topic or scroll through tracks to find what resonates.

• Your mind is going to wander – and that’s okay. Bring it back to the breath gently.

• If you fall asleep, be grateful that your body took what it needed.

• There is no “right” way or place or posture. I often meditate lying down or on a walk. Lately, I’ve found yoga to be a powerful way to “meditate in motion.”