Photo by Tim Goedhart on Unsplash
It’s no secret that I believe in the power of “be here now.” Furthermore, as I’ve mentioned on this blog in the past, I believe in the power of music to find peace in the midst of chaos. But the here and now looks different to everybody, and music doesn’t speak to everyone the way it speaks to me as a dancer and a musician. There must be another way to gain headspace, right?
Absolutely. Today, I want to talk about meditation and how it’s helped me to stay grateful and focused recently. I was skeptical when my mom introduced me to the Headspace app, but Emma Watson was using it, too, so I decided to give it a shot. Imagining that Hermione and I were sitting in the Gryffindor common room, I pressed play on the first session. Three minutes later, I felt physically, mentally and emotionally lighter.
Headspace makes meditation easy, which is great for beginners like me. You get to decide how long you want your sessions to last, and the app guides you through every step, from breathing deeply to assessing your state of mind after your session ends.
My greatest takeaway from my meditation journey thus far has been the car analogy. Meditation isn’t “getting rid of thoughts.” Blocking out your deepest thoughts and feelings simply allows them to build up over time and attack you all at once. That’s a war that no one wants to lose.
In reality, meditation is about “allowing thoughts to come and go.” It’s about removing yourself from the chaos in your mind and watching your thoughts pass by like cars on a highway. Some days, it’s easy and painless. Other days, it’s harder. No matter what kind of day it is, meditation is definitely not about judging yourself. For one, three, five or ten minutes, it’s all about acceptance.
I started regularly practicing yoga and meditation around the same time and have noticed drastic differences in my state of mind. I’m vastly more relaxed and positive than I was just a couple of months ago. And I’m no expert on this, but wow, it feels good to have this headspace, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come. If you’re interested in yoga but don’t know where to start, two of my favorite resources are:
If you feel that you’re drowning in your own traffic, as I was, meditation might be for you. I highly recommend the Headspace app.
Never forget: we’re all in this life thing together. No matter what works/doesn’t work for you. No matter how chaotic it all feels. We’re all learning, growing and conquering every day. One step at a time.
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