Meditation, it seems to be the new hottest thing. Celebrities and athletes are doing it. So what is all the buzz about? Meditation has been around in so many forms for so many thousands of years, it is hard to pin point when it started.
The common thread from all the traditions is meditation is about slowing down so that you can listen to your inner wisdom or god or the divine. Whatever you call it, meditation is about the pause. It is about the space in our own minds and taking the tim
e to experience it.
I have been meditating for as long as I can remember. My parents raised me in a Tibetan Buddhist household. Meditation was part of our lives. As kids we mostly spent time making forts out of meditation cushions. Sliding around the floor on Gomdens. As I got older I truly began realizing the true potential and benefits of meditation. Mid way though my junior year of high school I began a regular meditation practice. The benefits were slow but profound. All though high school I struggled with depression and procrastination. When I began meditating it slowly began to change. I started projects and papers earlier (ie not the night before they were due). My panic attacks lessened, and I started to feel better overall. These changes came slowly but were very noticeable. This all came from 5 to 10 minutes of meditation per day.
My routine was get up, answer nature then sit. I created a small space in my room, with a cushion and a place for books and a candle. I would light my candle and sit. It was that simple. I used to get intimidated that I should sit for 30 mins to an hour every day, morning and night. This was overwhelming and not sustainable for my teenage life. Then I heard a friend of my parents say that it was far better to sit for 5 minutes a day than not at all. He was right.
Meditation is not about having it all perfect. You don’t need all these special things. It is not about having no thoughts. It is about creating space. Space in your mind to not have to run. Space to just be. I started to see that. During the 5-10 minutes I sat I could just be me. I wasn’t a daughter, friend, student, girlfriend. I was just me. I could just listen to my breathing. I didn’t need to do anything. I just 
had to be me.
We now live in a world with smart phones and smart watches. We are expected to be on the go all the time. We bring our technology to bed with us. This is why meditation is more important than ever. We need that time to just be our selves. To not be on. To just breath.
Find a space in your house or office. Turn off your phone and just be. Don’t worry if you are doing it right. If you can just breath for a few minutes you are doing it. Give it a try, you have nothing to loose and everything to gain.
Meditation is an amazing way to cope with depression and stress. I like to take a walk and clear my mind whenever I find myself getting overwhelmed. The key is definitely finding what form of meditation works best for you 🙂
I love how you point out how 5 minutes is better than 30 minutes to an hour every day. I love my daily meditation practice with therapeutic yoga, but it used to overwhelm me with thinking I had to do the full hour. Just by doing the 5 minutes when I could, lowered my stress levels and I was more relaxed throughout the day.
Meditation is different for everyone, but I think we can all benefit from it. I personally feel better and less stressed when I’ve taken time to mediate and be thankful for all my blessings in life.
I have found taking just a few minutes every day to meditate and clear out my mind has been a huge help!
I definitely need to start meditating more. I find now find so much comfort in silence. Feels so peaceful and a great detox from our digital lives.
xoxo,
Berniedette | PetiteAndToned.com
I totally agree with the idea of giving at least 5-10 minutes. It’s something that used to bother me a lot when it came time to read my Bible and meditate. I always thought I needed to spend at least an hour for it to be worthwhile but I was completely wrong. Shorter time is definitely better than no time and it became especially easier to do with 3 little monkeys to chase down back then
Meditation helps keep me centered and calm. Anytime I start to get anxious or overwhelmed, I head to a quite space and take a few minutes to breathe and meditate. MAJOR help at work.
xoxo Christie
http://www.icanstyleu.com/blog/
I definitely want to start meditating again! I did it for a little bit, but it was always before bed and I would actually fall asleep! I’d love to do it first thing in the morning like you are!
You make meditation so relatable in this article. Usually, I feel like I don’t have enough time, or just feel awkward about meditation. You’re right though, 5-10 minutes is better than no time at all!
Meditating is so important. Right now I seem to be blocked though so it’s not as effective for me as it used to be. Thanks for sharing.
Kimberly Love
Author of You Taste Like Whiskey and Sunshine,
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