Meditation: Part 1

Meditation is not something that was entirely familiar to me a few years ago. I'm not sure how I came across it and started trying it out at random times, but I feel sure that it was due to Rebekah Borucki, aka BexLife, on YouTube or one of Deepak Chopra's free meditation series.

It does seem to be one of those things, like yoga, that everyone is starting to do. And yes, it can go hand in hand with yoga quite well, but can stand alone amazingly. Anyone can do yoga. And if you think your brain won't shut up enough to do meditation, I can promise you, after some time, you can. I have, what my doctors have said, an unusual though pattern in my head. I can hold a conversation, watch something, have thoughts, and usually song lyrics, and pay attention to all of it easily. My mind is multi-wired somehow, and I have no idea how I accomplish anything! (I'm currently listening to an audiobook and typing this up).

I've been reading books that focus on meditation and I've learned a lot. I've also downloaded several podcasts to listen to and listen to guided meditations on YouTube. I feel like they have helped calm me down. It helps me figure out (slowly) how to get my brain to shut up a bit which in turn is helping other areas of my life.

Let's start with books:

Pema Chodron How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends With Your Mind is a great one that I see recommended often and I feel like I learned a lot from to take into my meditation practice.

I also read Wherever You Go, There You Are but I don't really feel like I learned much from it honestly. Maybe because I read Pema Chodron first, or because it seemed to take generic psychological principles and say "when you feel this, it's because of this, so do that." Bleh.

I'm also reviewing a book that releases in October called Mudras for the Modern Life and might just be a bit obsessed with it. It has helped me learn how certain postures help with certain issues and, even if it's a placebo effect, it has definitely helped me a lot!

I'm currently halfway through Living with Intent by Mallika Chopra, daughter of Deepak Chopra. And while she is her father's daughter in many ways, she definitely has her own voice and direction. Being female and a mother, also helps me to relate to her on living with purpose. This book is already in my top 5 reads of the year no question! It has almost workbook style pages at the end, exercises, and some workbook style pages, at the end of each chapter. It's part workbook, part biography, part investigate research.

I'm about to start reading The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh which is described as a beginner's guide to mindfulness/meditation, and is quoted often in other books on meditation I have picked up.

I have had anxiety and depression since I was a teenager, or at least that was when I was diagnosed. I have been on all sorts of medication and they don't do much honestly. They have either made a neurological condition I have worse, have done nothing, or have turned me into a zombie. Meditation has helped me calm my brain enough to lessen pain and calm my thoughts so I can go to sleep.

I think I'm going to make this into a few parts series of my favorite meditation. This one was books, and next will be my favorite guided meditations!