Journey to Peace

Journey to Peace - A Beginner’s Guide

"Oh, I could never meditate!" "I can’t calm my thoughts down." "I have way

to much going on in my life to consider meditation." "I just don’t have time."

"I can’t stop thinking." "I don’t know where to begin."

Sound familiar? For some of us the very idea of laying down with

eyes closed for any period of time (except to sleep) is an anxiety-producing

exercise. This is understandable. However, if you’d like to get off the merry-

go-round of stress and create more peace in your life - even for two minutes -

I’ve got some suggestions for you. Start small. Think of the practice of

meditation like you’re starting a new fitness routine. It starts out with a

promise to yourself. Here are a few suggestions to begin:

* Time. Perhaps just two to five minutes. Set a timer.

* Place. Find a place where you can sit comfortably, preferably

where you won’t

be disturbed. Eyes open or closed. Comfort is very

important.

* Begin. Just breathe in for a count of three, breathe out for a count of

five.

* Expect. Thoughts - just let them come and go.

That’s literally it. It’s that simple. I find it best to meditate as soon as I

wake up, but the timing all depends on what works for you. The idea here is

to keep it simple. Keep it short at the beginning and enter this practice with a

loving heart. Just like Jazzercise, this is an important part of a self care

routine. The first realization is that our minds ARE running the show at lot of

the time. By gently entering the practice of meditation, we can begin to

become aware of our "autopilot" thoughts. Awareness is the first crucial step.

Keep an eye out for more articles like this about meditation,

mindfulness and self love in the upcoming months. If you have any questions,

please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Peace!

Karen E.