Meditation
Practising daily simple meditation has significantly improved my mood, stress levels and life. But it can be really difficult to find the time or space to meditate. Below are three meditation activities that are so simple that you can introduce them into your daily routines, even while you are out and about.
Love Mantra
Do you struggle with racing thoughts? Why not try introducing a mantra into your day. Find a quiet, comfortable position and focus on the word, LOVE (you can really choose any word or phrase that resonates with you: God, peace, unity, strength etc.)
Then spend some time meditating on the word or phrase you have chosen for up to 10 minutes. Any time that you become conscious of a thought, repeat your mantra, and then allow your mind to become still again.
After the exercise, consider how does it feel to have a quiet mind? Perhaps you can journal or create art around it.
Mindfully Walking
There is a practice in Zen Buddhism called Kinhin. This involves mindfully walking. It’s all about taking slow, intentional steps, cultivating mindfulness and connecting with your breath, just like you would during seated meditation. This delightful practice is a wonderful way to stay focused and present while you’re on the move!
Practice Kinhin next time you are walking somewhere to bring a moment of mindfulness into your day.
Watch the Sunset Mindfully
Did you know that meditation can be as simple as watching the sunset? Grab a blanket and go to the hills or ocean to watch the sun go down. As you are doing so, be mindful of the entire experience. What colours can you see, and how are they changing? What noises are there? What can you smell and taste. How does your body feel?
Then go further. What are you grateful for on this day? What have you achieved? What would you like to leave behind?
Try to really savour the time. Afterwards, you can prolong the experience by creating artwork that reflects your mood after watching the sun retreat for the evening.
Which meditation did you enjoy most? I enjoy the mantra as it helps to clear my mind of any clutter, but they are all lovely exercises that you can return to whenever you feel drawn to them.
Love and Light,
Sarah