I have been practicing this new thing. Well, not an actual new concept to myself or the world. But new because I am practicing it with fresh eyes.
After I finish my meditation, I have been journaling. (That part isn’t new.)
Not about hopes and desires. Not about dreams and wishes. Not about intentions and manifestations.
Just journaling about how I am feeling, in the moment, after meditation. (That’s the new part!)
Answering questions that someone new to meditation had posed several weeks ago, “What would meditation do for me?” and “How do I know I am doing it right?”. In the moment of that conversation, I am sure I gushed about the benefits of meditation. I know I reassured him that the practice is more about showing up for yourself, quieting the mind (Remember: you will not be able to stop all thoughts, but softening your reaction and moving back to breathing or a mantra when you notice the thoughts) and calming the body—then getting it “right”. I probably mentioned that a simple observation of how life flows after the meditation is the “proof” of “doing it right”.
However, I probably didn’t articulate an intimate or more personalized response. The emotional feels, the physical feels, about where my head is at before/during/after meditation, or what unfolds for me when I consistently practice meditation.
Shortly after that brief interaction I began to think about those questions again. And added some clarifying questions: How do I physically feel after I meditate? What is my emotional state after a meditation session? What do I think about? Does my relationship to meditation change? Does my relationship to myself or others change?
So, I started journaling after meditation (again, not really a new thing) about what meditation was “doing” for me directly after the meditation. Focusing on the feelings and sensations and sometimes thoughts after the meditation.
I’m not completely sure why that brief conversation lingered or why it prompted me to create a different, albeit temporary practice, but I have been doing it.
My mind would NEVER say, “you have been spending too much time in your head” (HA!)—but I am guessing that is part of it. If I get too busy or too depleted, I tend to spend time thinking about the past/future—which isn’t productive—so that could be a reason. I do like to change up routines or freshen up practices. Maybe that it’s it too. But honestly, I haven’t spent much time on why I am journaling in this way but have really enjoyed the observations I have written down.
Here are a few of the fun ones:
“I feel free and floaty and rooted and grounded at the same time”
“My body feels light and tingly, and my mind is no longer jumping around”
“It was like mental decluttering”
“I just detoxed my mind and body from the heaviness of negative emotions”
“My body is calm and relaxed and so are my thoughts”
“The junk thoughts were purged, and radiant thoughts re-emerged”
“Old stories were shredded. It opens me up to new possibilities”
“It reminds me that there is a here and now. And that I can remain present”
“I moved from feeling annoyed to a place of neutrality to feeling optimistic and grateful”
“I feel whole. Like I am fully me again”
Do you ever think about why you do what you do? Do you ever wonder if you are “doing it right”? How often do you press pause and explore other options for doing a particular thing or achieving outcomes you would prefer? Do you ever commit, even for a short time, to trying out something new to get to a new outcome or experience? How often do you reflect on the “what if’s” from a place of curiosity instead of a place of fear and ego? Have you ever wondered what you would receive from a practice of meditation?
No matter how you answered those questions, I invite you to take a little time now to look at your calendar. Put aside a few minutes and take a break from your routine. Shake up the daily grind. Even if it is 5 minutes before bedtime, carve some time out. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and sit quietly. See what comes up for you.
If you are needing more support and guidance in creating a meditation practice or would like to try a guided meditation with me, feel free to reach out and set up a session! Counseling and Coaching available depending on your needs! For more about counseling, you can reach me at mary@riversjourneycounseling.com or for coaching reach me at mary@riversjourneywellness.com
Enjoy the silence!
Mary
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