Learning to add moments of calm amongst chaos
You know when things are getting chaotic and you’ve almost reached your breaking point, and you just want to let out a primal scream? It’s too bad doing that regularly could get you locked up… because it’s entirely possible that a moment of absolute guttural release could be just the reset button you need sometimes.
So, let’s explore some other options, shall we?
If you’ve ever been in a counselling session with me, you’ll know that I am a huge proponent of meditation. It’s sooooo good for you and the concept is so simple; literally anyone could find a style or an approach that would suit them if they wanted to.
But it’s a very tough sell because despite how simple it is, the style that we typically imagine is actually very difficult. It takes practice to sit in stillness for 15-20 minutes and only focus on your breath. I’ve been practicing meditation at least four times per week for about seven years, and I still find it hard!
So, let me introduce a method you may not have heard before: Micro-meditation…. ooooo!
The purpose of meditation is to silence your mind and find a deep sense of calm within. When practiced regularly, it becomes a habit you eventually crave because it feels so good, and it helps regulate your emotions throughout the day so that you don’t lose your marbles when things go haywire.
The concept of micro-meditation, while not necessarily referred to as such, is timeless. Some of the ancient paths of wisdom, such as Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, and Sufism have included the practice of taking small moments of peace and stillness throughout each day for centuries… even millennia. So, while the concepts of mindfulness and meditation have really only been gaining traction here in the western hemisphere for about 40-50 years, some eastern cultures figured out this wisdom ages ago.
Fortunately for us, their work of understanding the benefits of daily snippets of peace are extremely transferrable to modern times. As we all know and hear everyday, we live in a fast-paced time of high productivity expectations, constant communication with and accessibility to each other, and an overabundance of information (legitimate or otherwise … eyeroll). So essentially, the wisdom that these ancient cultures have passed on to us is perfectly suited to our current reality!
Here is a quick and easy way to give it a go:
First, choose one thing to focus on. It could be a word that you repeat in your head, or a phrase, or mantra; it could be paying attention to your inhales and exhales; perhaps you find it better to stare at an inanimate object, or maybe to zone in on a particular part of your body such as your feet, for example.
Then you set a timer for about 20 seconds – doesn’t sound like much but sometimes that’s all it takes. Besides, a very brief moment of peace is a million times better than no peace at all, am I right?
Now, place all your attention on that one point of focus you chose, and breathe slowly (that is key), maintaining that focus until your timer goes off.
And boom! You are officially a meditator!! Congratulations!
That’s literally all it needs to be. Obviously, the more frequently you do it, the better you’ll feel; and if you work toward extending those 20 seconds to 60 seconds, then 2 minutes, then 5 minutes and so on, you will find that your inner sense of wellbeing will grow and evolve into something that can change your perspective on life altogether. You might hear your heart in a way you’ve never imagined.
"There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen." — Rumi
Who knows what you’ll hear???
Stay tuned for more tricks and tips on how to access that state of stillness that is inside you every moment of everyday, just waiting for you to pay attention.
