Our thoughts create perceptions that in turn become our reality. But what happens when these thoughts turn for the worst & have you caught in a spiral of unhealthy, distorted thinking? Your whole world probably gets turned upside down… or so you think it is.
M E D I T A T I O N is a means of transforming your thoughts & mind. It’s a form of becoming mindfully aware. Whatever you do to find this awareness is in fact meditation. “Intentionally breathing your body” is meditation; listening to music is meditation; running is meditation; yoga asana is meditation; and for my husband, fly fishing or some insane mountain bike trail is meditation. Meditation means ‘a cessation of the thought process’. It describes a state of consciousness; when the mind is free of scattered thoughts and various patterns.
Last fall I came across a beautiful meditation by Deepak Chopra. A morning meditation where he offers 4 intentions to be repeated & absorbed in the area around your heart space. I have been practicing either this or a gratitude filled meditation every morning since… here’s how it goes:
Posture
Find a comfortable seat. Prop yourself up on a bolster, block, book, or really anything to elevate your hips higher than your knees. This provides a solid, comfortable foundation that will in turn encourage a tall spine.
Next, lift up & out of your pelvis, creating space between your pelvis & ribs. Draw your shoulders down away from your ears & broaden your collarbones.
Get really earthy & heavy into your seat, yet still be lifting through your crown.
Breath
Start to observe your breath. Through this one simple action, you’ll notice your breath starting to slow. Now, let this breath flow into a softening of your forehead, jaw, neck & shoulders. Eventually, your central nervous system will begin to calm, settling your body into a state of comfortable stillness.
Awareness
Setting an intention(s) during meditation is one technique to align your thoughts with the energy you want to embody.
Repeat the following intentions, either out loud or internally, & allow the words to release into the area of your heart.
Joyful, Energetic Body
Loving, Compassionate Heart
Reflective, Alert Mind
Lightness of Being
Progeression
Repeat each set of intentions 3X before moving on. Once completed, allow yourself to find the pause & bask in the stillness. Feel free to keep repeating these intentions. If you find that your mind starts to wander, simply bring your awareness back to the breath exchanges.
Sit as long as you’d like. Or if you’re just starting out, set a timer for 1 minute & see how it goes. Meditation, just like anything else, is a practice. Meet yourself where you’re at & be gentle on yourself. Keep returning to your seat as often as you can. There will come a time when you’ll feel or notice something that’s new & exciting… that “ah ha!” moment is only one meditation away;)
“Energy flows where intention goes.” The 4 above intentions have helped me immensely over the last few months. My body finally feels light & energetic, & I have become very aware of some of my negative thought patterns & how they affect my overall energy. My heart can be so vulnerable. Every day I’m clearing, cleansing, releasing & ultimately letting go of attachments & judgements, & moving more into a place of acceptance & appreciation. I’m starting to see that most of the external can all just be a dilution. Things are never quite as they may seem… & that’s ok.
Always know that you’re only one intention, one THOUGHT, away from seeing things differently & ultimately feeling better.
Give this a try & let me know how it goes:)
~Namaste~
Love, Alisha
xoxo
#movebreathebe
