I’ve recently drawn the conclusion that meditation has managed to achieve something quite remarkable. Somehow it is both the most over talked about practise and also the most underrated tool that is missing from most of our lives. How can that possibly be?!
As someone with multiple buisnesses, a blended family with 3 kids and a neurodivergent mind that is always “on the go”, the very idea of sitting cross legged in silence didn’t just sound completely unappealing, it sounded impossible. So it's safe to say that I have largely considered myself an unlikely candidate for meditation.
At least, so I thought....
I spent years rejecting the concept (which quite honestly bored me), despite being friends with meditation experts and family who insisted it’s benefits were "endless". I mean seriously? How on earth can sitting there trying desperately to not think of anything, possibly be helpful?! I was already contemplating all the things that would undoubtedly pop into my brain (laundry/emails/vet appointment/teenagers birthday plans/client sessions/am I too old for TikTok/did I turn the oven off......?) And honestly, I don’t have the time…
“You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day – unless you're too busy; then you should sit for an hour.” – Zen Proverb
Until one day a conversation with a friend around balancing life & business whilst in the pursuit of dreams, led me to a different perspective. And for the first time ever, I opened myself up to the possibility that meditation might just be the missing piece of the puzzle. Thankfully my curiosity was greater than my stubbornness, otherwise I might have conceded at the first " Eughh but it's going to be so boring!!" whining protest from my inner child
After spending a couple of weeks devotedly meditating daily, the results were undeniable. And no one was more shocked than me. I realised that my days flowed with more ease. The juggling act of family, businesses, clients and various other commitments (we all l know that laundry isnt going to do its self) didn’t suddenly disappear from my to do list, I simply approached it all with a different mindset. One of clarity, a new found calmness and a creativity that flowed freely.
Now I’m not saying that the sky’s cleared, suddenly revealing sunshine and rainbows, whilst birds followed me around like Snow White, serenading me as I floated throughout the day… but I genuinely felt really good!
I even found myself declaring, “I can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner!” Which was not unfairly met with eye rolls & ‘Didn’t I tell you?!” by various yogi friends! And with deep irony I began to wonder why we didn’t all meditate and why this magical and completely free tool wasn’t shouted about from the rooftops. You know what they say, there’s no one more evangelical about something than a newbie… be it spirituality, exercise or in this case, meditation.
I’ve come to the conclusion that one of the reason so many of us resist something like this, something that is backed with huge amounts of science regarding the benefits of our wellbeing, is because we dismiss it based on our misconceptions. Namely that we think we have to do yoga, that guided meditations are cheating, that your brain absolutely has to be empty of all thoughts otherwise you’re doing it wrong. Also, must be done under a full moon after consuming herbal tea and burning organic free range incense sticks… you get my drift!
When in reality, all you will ever need is you.
“Meditation is the ultimate mobile device; you can use it anywhere, anytime, unobtrusively.” - Sharon Salzberg
Now in all honesty, I don’t manage to meditate every single day, despite discovering it’s benefits. Life is busy and the juggle is real! But on the days I don’t, I feel it’s absence…
It shows itself in the lack of flow, the being ever so slightly more annoyed by things that would have otherwise passed me by unnoticed and in the lack of pure serenity that a good meditation session can leave you feeling with. However, it has become an invaluable and powerful tool that is available to me whenever I choose.
In a world that is constantly “on”, meditation is like a soothing tonic for a busy mind, a gift that will cost you nothing more than a little of your time and repay you back in unimaginable and quite remarkable ways. And if you don’t believe me, there’s only one way to truly find out…
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