As we make our way closer to the end of the busy summer months and get ready to move into the busy buzz of autumn and the holiday season, it’s important to slow down and rebalance ourselves so we don’t become overwhelmed.
Summer Meditation
I’ve shared in some of my past blog posts that I’ve been making it a priority to sit peacefully with my coffee in the morning and watch the sunrise before I start my day. Slowing my mornings has helped me connect better with the moment, my intentions, and my creativity and has helped me keep focused throughout the day so that I can accomplish my tasks more efficiently. My daughter got me started on slower living and so, I have asked her to share some posts on how to slow down, focus and meditate and live a more intentional lifestyle. Today is the first post in this mini series.
Being Intentional
For the month of August through the first week of September, once a week we will be sharing a new meditation practice, working up from 1 minute a week to a total of 5 minutes to help teach you how to slow down, the importance of it, and how to make time for it every day.
This Weeks Meditation
For our first practice, we’re going to take one minute to simply sit quietly. For this, find a comfortable space where you can separate yourself from distractions. It might be a chair in your bedroom, a spot in the garden. While you are soaking in your bath. Choose what works best for you to be able to sit and focus on quiet. Once you are comfortable, relax your shoulders and breathe slowly. Close your eyes, and allow your breath to move steadily through you as your thoughts fade away. Focus on the rise and fall of your breath to help you become more immersed in the moment. If putting soft music on helps, feel free to do that as well.
Don’t worry about focusing too much on the meditation itself. This first practice is meant to teach you how to sit and breathe quietly and intentionally for a minute in the day and to make a habit out of it. So, just allow yourself to sit, clear your mind, and focus only on the present moment.
Once the minute is complete, you can slowly open your eyes. If you struggled to keep your focus on the meditation, know that this is normal and is something everyone struggles with during meditation. When this happens, you can quickly refocus your mind back to the rhythm of your breath and allow any thoughts that come your way to pass by like a breeze. Over time and with more practice, keeping your focus will become easier.
Meditation is something anyone can do and doesn’t have to be complex in order to be impactful. While it may seem simple, and one minute may not seem like enough, you’ll be amazed at what one minute a day can do for your well-being. Like exercise, you aren’t an expert when you first begin and may not see results right away, but over time, it will start to become easier, and you will start to see greater results for your hard work.
This week, I encourage you to practice this breathing meditation once a day. You can add an additional minute for each day throughout the week or simply stick to one minute a day. Whatever you do, if you keep putting in time and effort for it every day for at least one minute, you’re bound to see the reward of slowing down and becoming more intune with the moment in no time.
Meditation & Slow Living
For more on our slow living series – you can find The Art of Slow Living HERE and a post on living more intentionally HERE
Pam says
That was an awesome post thank you.
Carol says
Thank you for reminding me how valuable “quiet” can be in my life. I appreciate this post and the reminder.
Mary A. Gavin says
beautiful just what I need…thank you
Lorraine says
That’s what I Love about youCourtney, You are beautiful inside and out, and it SHOWS through posts like this one!!
Unfortunately, I have been dealing with HEALTH issues and AM behind on reading and drooling OVER THE beauty you share and something drew ME to this post, and it is what I needed!
Vicky Moore says
Im very GRATEFUL for this post. This nourishes & lifts ones soul
…not any easy accomplishment in this hectic world.
Thank you.