By Starre Vartan / Source: EcoChick

Las-Grutas-San-Miguel-Light

When I was 15, I was angry. Somehow, and I don’t remember exactly who or what or when, I learned some basic meditation techniques. When I was a teenager, I used them specifically to calm myself down when I was pissed off, but only then. So, I used meditation as a tool, during specific moments, as a remedy for overwhelming and nasty feelings.

There were great chunks of time when I didn’t meditate during my 20s, but when I started doing yoga, I was reminded of the benefits—and instructed about how meditation could be used as preventative mental “medicine” of sorts. Instead of using it as a tool to deal with anger after I had already experienced it, I could meditate to be able to become more calm and mindful.

It sounded good, though frankly, I had no idea what that actually meant. In fits and starts, I meditated. I got more into it when my 7-year-long relationship ended and I was single again at age 30. I didn’t know exactly what meditation was doing, but I knew I felt better after doing it. Like exercise, or a shower, it didn’t seem all that transformative until after I was done with it.

I kept at it (not every day, but often enough so it was a regular thing), and it got easier. I could sit for 15 or 20 minutes at at a time. And then I started noticing that my general anxiety levels were decreasing. Though nothing in my life had changed, I felt more comfortable in my own skin. I had just dealt with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (and even panic attacks) for years, and I noticed that the more I meditated, the less those nervous feelings attacked me, and when they did come, they were lighter, less intense.

8700080649_15c9caa886_k

Meditation worked for me. Eight years into a regular meditation practice (I do it almost every morning) I am more calm, and happier. I still have ups and downs, but they are less intense. And stuff that would have made me blow my top (I had a temper!) before, just doesn’t anymore. This past weekend, I moved from Oregon to California and several things went wrong, but I didn’t get upset or nervous. I was able to just let traffic, no-show movers, and other silly stuff just roll right off my shoulders. I could see the long view—that my partner and I would get our stuff into the house somehow and that in a week, none of the details would really much matter.

That kind of realization is called mindfulness; being able to see the situation for what it is, as opposed to reacting to it emotionally. Meditation helped me get to the place where I can do that, and so, it has changed my life.

My rules for meditation:

—You can meditate anywhere (I meditate on planes; while I walk—here’s more on that; floating on my back in the sea; sitting on the floor at home).

—You can meditate however you like—while chanting a mantra, in silence, while listening to music, outside, in bed, or while being guided by a video or recording

—You have do to it every day (or almost every day; don’t let one or two missed days keep you from getting back to it!)

As you can see, I don’t really have any hard-and-fast rules, except that you have to DO IT.

How do I meditate? The same way I have for years.

Read more @ EcoChick