On Meditation

When you think about meditation, you probably visualize a person sitting on the floor of a dark room, eyes closed and legs crossed. Maybe not. But if your mind works anything like mines, this is what you vision. For a long time, this kept me from wanting to give meditation a try. I didn’t understand how I would have the ability to sit still for [x] amount of minutes without a thought running through my mind. Meditation is all about quieting the mind and living in the moment but I’ve learned that it is completely okay and very normal for your mind to race during meditation sessions. Being able to work through those thoughts and find the root as to why you’re even thinking that thought(s) in the first place is all part of the meditation process. Ultimately, enlightenment is the end goal but in order to even get there, you have to work through all of the chatter that is taking place in your mind. 

Remember when I said meditation involves a person sitting on the floor, eyes closed and legs crossed? I was wrong. This is the most common form of meditation but that doesn’t mean it is the only way. It is actually one of my least favorite forms of meditation. Some of my favorite ways to meditate include working out, stretching/yoga, and [as of lately] painting. Obviously, it’ll look different for everybody. I recommend doing the things that you love the most. Those things that put you in your element. Those things that make you feel like your floating. Those things that allow you to truly live in the moment. 

So, a few weeks ago, I painted as meditation for the first time and I learned a couple of things. 1) I can sort of paint a little bit [lol]. 2) Creativity doesn’t take much thought. When I was in the process of creating this painting, I didn’t do much thinking if any at all. In his book The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle mentions that all true artists create from a place of no-mind, from inner stillness. I think Eckart is onto something. In general, I create my best work when I just do and be. Using my mind while creating usually leads to an overconsumption of thoughts which then leads to second guessing myself and my work. 

Don’t let images of what you think meditation looks like scare you away from enjoying something that has the potential to connect you to the universe and your higher self. I mentioned a few forms of meditation but the possibilities are endless. Boxes are created for almost everything in this dimension, leaving so many of us inside of them. Let’s not create a box for meditation (or anything else for that matter.) So many of the things that you want to accomplish will require a visit from your highest self. It’s important to get acquainted with who that person is and what they look like. 

Mental health, spirituality, and meditation are topics that will regularly be discussed on this platform, so I hope you enjoyed this excerpt. Speaking about these things not only help me on my journey but I hope it helps you in some way on yours. Until then, I definitely recommend reading The Power of Now and just spending more time getting to know your higher self. 

Keep growing and glowing. 

xoxo,

Ri