Reflections on My Year of Meditation
I wanted to share a big milestone with you all in what has been the best thing I decided to do for myself one year ago-MEDITATION.
Last year a series of hardships left me in a heightened state of anxiety and I experienced many dark days and nights. I lost control of my thoughts, my emotions and my health. Everything was spiraling down, down, down, and I was binge drinking and crying myself to sleep.
One night in the midst of a particular trying evening, I could see my daughter talking to me but I couldn’t hear her words: not because I was drunk, but because my head was ringing and I felt severe panic in my chest. I retreated to my bedroom and in a moment of clarity, I remembered the good healing energy I had felt when I had a meditation practice during my yoga teacher training. So I sat down and tried to just be with myself.
I spent the next ten minutes of my “meditation” bawling my eyes out, but I feel better afterwards. That’s when I made a commitment to myself that I would carve out time EVERY SINGLE DAY to meditate.
And here I am, one year later and I am proud to say that I have sat in mediation every day for the entire year!
Many things have changed because of this new practice. I have stopped drinking, I have gained a deeper level of compassion, I have more passion and drive, and I am a better mom, wife and friend. I have also begun meditation teacher training so I can help others learn this powerful practice.
Meditation has many positive effects on your brain. Thanks to neuroplasticity, we can rewire our brains so that our anxiety subsides, our memory improves and we react less to the stresses of life.
Meditation will not heal everything, but it will help you take a step back from your pain and view it more objectively. It creates space between you and your thoughts in which you can breathe and think clearly. It opens up the communication between your gut, your heart and your head so you can be guided by your intuition instead of your ego. Meditation is more than just a self-care practice.
Meditation has awoken my divine potential and has liberated me from the limitations of my thoughts and emotions. It has shed light on the dark corners of my soul and amplified my own light. I can now recognize an opportunity or a failure as a lesson to strengthen my personal power.
The best part is that meditation is for everyone!
Are you willing to give it a go? If you live in North Vancouver, I offer private meditation coaching. If not, consider joining FIT CLUB (sign up here) where we spend time every month learning how to include mindfulness and meditation in our lives.
One year down and a lifetime to go! I hope you will join me.
Extra Resources
A great podcast on modern day meditation – Emily Fletcher on The Lifestylist Podcast