The goal of meditation is to not think, which is unfathomable to some. The trick is to think only about your breath. Counting works well to help you concentrate on this, repeating inhale/exhale in your mind, or what I’ve gravitated towards is repeating a mantra (a word or phrase to represent what you wish to invite into your life). It’s a way of ingraining a thought or idea into your mind. The most successful one that I’ve been using for about three years now is this: gratitude (inhale), forgiveness (exhale), acceptance (inhale), contentment (exhale), love (inhale), repeat (exhale begin)…I believe all of these things work in succession, and these are the ways I wish to live my life. Pretty simple…
GRATITUDE: express it every day, in every moment, with every action. Do not forget the gift that your life is, and not to be taken for granted. Realize how blessed you are and happiness will follow.
"The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence." –Emerson
FORGIVENESS: not just of others, but most importantly of yourself. If you can’t stop beating yourself up over prior occurrences, you will never be able to blossom into your greater good. The universe will not hold against you the mistakes of the past; let them be a lesson and be wiser for it. Nothing is holding you back except for the limitations you have created for yourself, and enabling yourself to let go will provide you with unrivaled freedom.
"Our forgiveness of one another is not simply a matter of politeness or of grudging allowance for each other's foibles. It is instead a courageous act of defiance that refuses to remain entrapped in hatred and recrimination, and chooses instead to risk the spacious unknown of real freedom."
ACCEPTANCE: change happens when you stop trying to control the outcome. Instead, react to your circumstances with grace and allow things to unfold the way nature intends for them to. Loosen the reins and things are sure to fall into place. If you cannot forgive, you will never be able to accept.
"Forget safety.
Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation.
Be notorious."
-Rumi
CONTENTMENT: you cannot find it anywhere in the world if you can’t find it within your own heart. True contentment does not waver based on your surroundings, but rather is your ability to feel it in all circumstances; it is a mechanism of living in your own skin.
“The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” –Marcel Proust
LOVE: at the end of the day, it makes the world go round. It is fearless, incredibly challenging, and powerful beyond belief. Only if we’re lucky do we have the courage to experience love at its absolute fullest, and it's not about loving only those who are close to our hearts (that would be too easy). To love wholeheartedly is to overstep your own stubborn perimeters of resentment and love even those who are most difficult, and to love all things equally and with compassion. This kind of love is impossible if you are unable to be gracious, if you are unable to forgive, if you are unable to accept, and if you cannot find contentment within yourself.
The challenge is well-put:
“It’s not about who you love…it’s about do you love” –Michael Franti
Meditation can be a tough pill to swallow for some, but attempt and you will quickly think otherwise. Also, the oxygen boost works wonders for your brainpower on a scientific level.
XO,
E
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