100+ Days of Meditation

I’ve carried around this photo of the Kananaskis River near Banff Canada for years.  When I visited in the late 90’s, it was an incredible experience.  I loved hiking through the trails and took multiple photos of the running paths and the river.  I’ve been drawn to this place since I first visited.  This is where my meditation practice often begins.

It isn’t possible for me (or many others) to plop down and rest with a clear mind. Who does that? My meditation process begins with a visualization that calms and quiets my mind. During the visualizing I let go of stress and tune into my breath in a very creative way. Using my imagination to envision myself swimming through this river and sometimes flying over the tree tops allows me to still the thoughts of the day and dial into the real me. It required concentration to walk this imaginary path and that is perfect for quieting the relentless chatter of the day.

How getting started in my meditation practice works

Part 1 | I’m climbing up the pictured path.  Once I get to the top, right in front of that tall pine tree, I dive up and over that pine, and down into the water.  Once I hit the water, I swim upstream.  Each stroke in the water sheds the stress of my day. Each stroke is a deep breath in and out. I am able to see myself swimming and feel myself breathing deeply under the water as if I am a fish!

I swim upstream long enough to wash away the stress I’ve carried through the day. 

Originally, this was my entire meditation from beginning to end. When I began, I worked hard to see myself swimming, washing away stress and breathing deeply under water for 5 minutes.

When I moved to a new city, I was desperately seeking friends. I created a lagoon where I would rest after washing away the stress. Here I said hello to wonderful friends who filled my life with understanding, fun and love. And to keep it interesting, they were mermaids. Why not? This is my creative brain…The point was to visualize connecting with friends that surrounded me.

Eventually I added swimming over to a cliffside and climbing up a set of stone steps onto a ledge where others were waiting to greet me.  Though I am not sure who they are, they welcome me home and we all sit around a large campfire. And we mediate together. As we breath in the fire shrinks. As we breath out, the fire rises and burns beautifully.

I sometimes count the breaths. I sometimes lose sight of the fire and simply count and listen to my breath. As thoughts pop in, I come back to the fire and try to release them. Back to the counting. Back to hearing myself breathe. At this point I was able to sit still and breath in this little imaginary world for 15-20 minutes. Over time and practice, I began my meditation with this visualization and settled into a calm quiet of counting my breaths and listening to the in and out of my breath.

The quiet and getting calm has always begun with a visualization for me. It helps me tremendously to give my mind a calming activity to embrace as I ask my body and brain to let go of the day.

How meditation helps me

When I sit and meditate first thing in the morning, I’ve done something big. I’ve told my body what to do, I’ve told my mind what to think, and I’ve connected with myself on a spirit level. Often I hear ideas or inspiration during this time. These special thoughts do not come as an invasion. They almost feel like a friend telling me a secret or an answer. Invasive thoughts or cluttering thoughts such as my to-do list or grocery list, or incessant worry about a deadline or feeling…those thoughts are different and I have a management system for them as well.

Overcoming myself first thing offers me a sense of accomplishment. It also offers a clear frame of mind that is free of judgement, resentment, or fear. I begin the day in a calm and creative place. The calm state may not last even five minutes after the meditation ends, but its influence is woven intricately throughout my day. I’m more patient and slower to anger. I’m able to think more clearly. I find solutions and answers when I take the time to incorporate this practice in the morning. If I skip, I might get things done - sometimes begrudgingly and sometimes ineffectively…I rarely find solutions on days I do not meditate!

What is the right way to meditate?

There is no right or wrong way to meditate. With as little as one minute or as many as 45 minutes, you are able to make an impact upon your physical body. You are also able to create a connection to the real you - the you inside who has all the answers you are seeking. I began with 5 minutes and worked my way up to 45 minutes. Most days I take 20 minutes to calm myself and check in.

Even one minute of deep breathing first thing when you wake or right before bed is a great place to start.

Why meditate?

Every single time you sit down and release the thoughts of the day you create space in between your thoughts. Perhaps only a little at first. Maybe you sit and ‘think - release’ and again you ‘think - release’ and your entire 5 minutes is spent catching thoughts and releasing them! What a mental workout that can feel painful and aggravating. But seriously, when have you EVER released your thoughts before? It may not feel great in the moment but as your practice and improve, you will feel the difference it makes when you release.

AND guess what you eventually find in that space in between your thoughts? Soultions. Renewal. Grace. Forgiveness. Answers. There is so much to be found when we quiet the world and tune into ourselves.

What did 100 Days of Meditation do for Me?

It slowed me down. I learned that I can overcome my body. I can be still and I can catch and release thought after thought until I’m comfortable with myself. I can get comfortable sitting still on the floor in a quiet room doing nothing. It taught me to allow myself space for more. That quiet time allowed my body time to heal and I found a connection to my spirit. I found my voice of wisdom. That wisdom is in each and every one of us but how often do we seek it out or listen to it? I rarely tuned in to my wisdom, well that isn’t true…I never tuned in to my wisdom before getting quiet in meditation. Once I became quiet, however, that wise voice became one I could hear more and more often. Eventually I began to hear wise thoughts as often as I heard critical thoughts. We are not taught to release negative mind chatter. We are not often taught to seek a voice greater than that of the world. I found my voice and a greater voice as I let go of stressful thoughts, relentless thoughts and even random thoughts.

We are not taught to be still and be ok with relaxation and stillness to overcome hurdles and stress. We are taught to cope with food and substances that create noise and barriers in our bodies. I got to know my body, my mind and my spirit during that first 100 days and my perspective and identity shifted.

100 days of tuning in to myself taught me to let go, when to rush in, gave me profound insights and helped heal my body on many levels.

Get Started Meditating

If you don't think you can meditate, give visualization a try to get yourself into a calm state which can lead to meditation.  Really, just a deep breath repeated 10 times will get you started.  If you give your minds eye something to calm it while you sink in, you might find it easier to keep going.  Create a comfy space and give it a try a few times. Before you know it, that space will call out to you. Good luck!