Finding Peace Amidst the Storm: My Journey with Practical Meditation.
I've come to hold dear a special kind of wisdom, one that understands meditation isn't a universal "one-size-fits-all" practice. It's more like a custom - made shawl, each strand interlaced with our individual tales, triumphs, and day-to-day challenges. I want to pull back the curtain on my path to what I affectionately call 'practical meditation,' a sanctuary carved right in the middle of my typical everyday whirlwind.
There was a time when I boxed meditation as an exclusive club for spiritual masters, renunciates, or those able to enjoy the free time to disconnect from the hectic pace of the world around them. I yearned for a time where I could have total, uninterrupted silence. (But I never wanted to live in a cave). My mind painted pictures of serene people in untouched sanctuaries, a stark contrast to the chaos of my everyday life. This form of meditation seemed like a distant dream, unattainable for someone entangled in the raw throes of work commitments, family obligations, and the dance of personal and professional relationships.
But the landscape shifted when I tripped over a kind of lifeline: meditation designed for people like me, people living in very real and messy lives. This wasn't about stepping back from worldly chaos but stepping into a version of meditation that fits snugly around the daily errands, spontaneous meet-ups, and even the messiest moments life throws our way.
This 'practical meditation' wasn’t asking for secluded locations or extended, elaborate rituals. It was about sinking into a few invaluable minutes of stillness amidst a hectic workday, centering on the breath during gridlocked traffic, or relishing the sensation of water caressing your skin as you do dishes, calling you back to the 'now.' It’s the kind of meditation that nods in understanding that we're not just beings — we're human beings juggling a ticking clock. It slips seamlessly into our calendar's quiet corners, devoid of any guilt for not setting aside unrealistic hours.
Embracing this was nothing short of a revelation. I was no longer wrestling to fit the preconceived mold of 'traditional' meditation. I was fashioning my own — adaptable and resilient, ready to morph to accommodate the day's ebb and flow. Some days, it's about stealing five sacred minutes of deep breathing behind the sanctuary of a locked bathroom door, away from persistent knocks of life’s demands. Other times, it's a mindful stroll at lunch, grounding myself with each step, every sense wide awake, an inner whisper affirming, "I'm here. I'm alive."
And the repercussions have been deep-seated. There has been a weight that's lifted off my shoulders. And I unearthed clarity in turbulence, finding a calming undercurrent that wasn’t there before. My to-do list didn’t shrink, nor did responsibilities lessen. Yet, their load lightened, all because I discovered my equilibrium in those stolen instants of meditation. Relationships began to flourish — I was more there, genuinely there. Work became less of a grind — I was less fragmented, more collected.
And settling into meditation as someone with a 'real life' helped me lay to rest that nagging sense of not 'doing it right' or not doing 'enough' for my wellbeing. I was doing more than enough, one inhalation at a time. I was sailing through challenges with a grace I didn’t know I possessed, one aware moment at a time.
If you see your reflection in my story, know this: meditation isn’t about flipping your life on its head. It’s about sowing seeds of ease in your already flourishing garden, regardless of the wildflowers or weeds that sprout. It exists to serve you, to embrace you, and to guide you home amidst the delightful chaos of your very tangible life.
Ultimately, practical meditation shared with me an invaluable truth: tranquility doesn’t necessitate an escape from the commotion; occasionally, it’s nestled right in the eye of the storm.
This approachable adaptation of meditation isn’t a step back; it’s a pragmatic step forward. It reaffirms that inner peace isn’t an indulgence fit only for renunciate but an essential, accessible slice of our beautifully imperfect existence.
Find out more how you can incorporate realistic meditation into your life. Work with Ranya and Empathic Yoga. www.empathicyoga.com
