Making meditation approachable for the apprehensive

The inspiration you seek is already within you. Be silent and listen.-Rumi

hello!   // I honestly don't quite know where to begin with this blog post. I thought writing about my 10 days would be as simple as the lemon water challenge. Day 1 - hard. day 2 - easier. day 3 - now i'm addicted!
Nope, nothing like that. You cant track progress of your meditation journey. Some days are easy, some days hard as hell.

goals for the project   //   A goal of this 10 day challenge was to make meditation approachable for the apprehensive. To invite you to try it. To inspire you to incorporate it into your busy lives. To teach you some tips on how to do it with ease. 
My goal was to show the skeptics that yes, it is frustrating sitting with your thoughts.
That yes, finding 5 - 10 minutes in the morning is incredibly difficult and yes, I too, would much rather hit snooze then get to my meditation cushion. 

starting slow // Starting this new morning ritual was just like starting anything else. Frustrating, annoying & painful. It like leg your muscles waking up after the first jog in 3 months. Stuff was being utilized for the first time in a while, and it was not comfortable. Emotions, thoughts, repressed memories that have been settled, were stirred up, like sand at the bottom of the ocean floor floating to the surface, thick & mucky.
Man, did I get cranky.
I am beyond grateful for my supportive tribe, who would remind me to "keep it up'. The more you run, the better it feels. The stronger you get, the farther you go. Keep it up.
And so I did.

what we know // Meditation is to help you become the observer of your thoughts. To allow emotions, and learn to let them go. To notice anxiety, anger, sadness creep up, acknowledge it and breath through it before it takes over. 

letting go  //The silence, the pause, the stillness can be unsettling.
What will happen when I let go?
Will I feel uncomfortable?
What should I do when a thought or emotion comes up and i cant distract myself?

Engaging and noticing the discomfort is the key.
Awareness and detachment is what we are processing. 

No distractions. Just you.
It's OK.

knowing your why // There is no right or wrong way. The trick is to keep coming back, reminding yourself of why you're doing this.
Is it to minimize anxiety in your life? Be a little more patient with those around you? Cultivate more self love and compassion? Do you want to hear your intuition guide you towards your life path?
It's all there. In your silence. 

after 10 days // I meditated for 10 minutes every morning and tried for 5 minutes every evening. I slept like a baby every evening. I felt calmer, more grounded and less quick to react during the day. I have noticed improvements in my overall mood, feeling less flustered, knowing I can always come back to my tools when I need to. Its literally like a warm bath for the mind, so I look forward to it now.
But it takes time. I guess I needed to write to hold myself accountable for the first 10 days, giving my new morning routine a sweet jump start. 

funny story // The irony of ironies is that this morning is the first morning in 14 days that I didn't get a chance to meditate because I was in such a rush to finish up this post. meditate cause i had to write to the world about its benefits. Ah well. Life still gets in the way. 

TIPS // 
-Designate a time and a space. 7am at the foot of your bed is an example. An altar, surrounding yourself with inspiring quotes, crystals and incense, is another.
-Set a timer for however long you'd like to meditate. 
-Sit comfortably, and close your eyes.
-Notice the inhale through the nose and your body expanding. Notice the warmth of the exhale, and your body releasing. 
-Allow your mind to wander, and sweetly come back to your breath when you can.
-To anchor your mind, saying 'in' on the inhale and 'out' on the exhale can help. You can also count to 4 as you breath in and out. 
-Be kind to yourself. this isn't easy
-Repeat

resources // from youtube videos to apps to more information, here are some links that will get you through your first days. Let me know how it goes!!

Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics    (book)

The Honest Guys   (youtube)

Insight Timer     (app)

Deepak Chopra & Oprah 21 day meditation  (website)

xx, LrM

.