A man goes into the Himalayan Mountains to find enlightenment. He travels for many miles to find an empty cave to live a spiritual life. He settles in to meditate, study ancient spiritual scripture and do his yoga to keep limber. For many, many years he practices all day and night, until one day – poof! – He’s enlightened.So as the man emerges from the cave to greet the world, a bird flies over and shits on his head. He immediately becomes enraged and starts cursing at the bird.
What’s the moral of the story? It’s easy to be spiritual in a cave high atop a mountain and far away from everything that could potentially disturb your peace; the real task is to keep peace amidst the challenges we face in the world.
My original attraction to Yoga wasn’t a quest for inner peace or a desire to levitate over Manhattan; I came to Yoga purely for the physical practice. Over time I started exploring all the facets of Yoga and discovered that the physical practice was actually for the “soul” purpose of meditating more easefully and peacefully. Now that was quite an eye-opener for me because no one had explained that when I’d originally signed up. I’d been tricked into thinking I was doing something good for my body, unaware that I was simultaneously doing something good for my mind and soul.
The first few times I tried meditating I made every effort to sit quietly, yet nothing happened. Well, I shouldn’t say nothing happened. My mind ran amuck. It traveled from one thought to another, without taking a break. I felt frustrated and limited. Why couldn’t I just keep quiet for one moment? I was sure everyone else in the room had it down while I was the ONLY one still thinking. But after sharing my experience with others, I realized even the most experienced and self-actualizing people also have days when their minds run seemingly out of control.
And what was the purpose of all this quiet time anyway? After all, I hadn’t had it since kindergarten, and even then I wasn’t very good at it, having been dubbed a social butterfly by my teacher on my report card. But everything I read—spiritual, self-help and even business—talked about the benefits of meditation, so I kept exploring.
Introducing a meditation ritual takes practice; the more you practice the easier it gets. Think back to when you may have learned to ride a bike. You probably fell down a few times and skinned you knees before you got it right. When you started cooking, you probably burned a few things, including you hands. So with regular practice, mediation can get easier.
I believe the only evidence you’ll ever need to prove that mediation works is to try it yourself. Become your own scientist and experiment with different techniques, notice how you feel, draw your own conclusions and experience the results.
Starting my own ritual of meditating was not easy for me; I fell off the Yogic wagon several times. Eventually I found that the best time for me to meditate was when I woke up in the morning. When I tried earnestly to get up with the sun, inevitably I felt tired in the middle of my day. As much as I wanted to get up at the crack of dawn, by the third day I couldn’t keep it up and stopped meditating completely. I discovered that meditating when I got up, regardless of the time, was much more effective.
Upon waking, I cleanse and then meditate before doing anything else. This works best for me. I created a ritual, which became an integral part of my daily routine. If for some reason, I miss my morning meditation, it now feels like I didn’t brush my teeth. Introducing a daily ritual into your routine takes about thirty days of repetition. Find the rhythm that suits you and your life. If you’re not a morning person, meditate in the afternoon; if you are a night owl, take advantage of the stillness of the dark. Start with just five minutes every day and let it grow from there. After you have created a daily habit of meditating; sit for ten minutes, then twenty and so on. If you start your practice with the goal to meditate for an hour and then fail, you’ll get aggravated and give up.
You can create a special, sacred space for your meditations, but remember it’s not completely necessary. No matter where you are, you can always go within. If you like, find a place that is clutter-free and quiet. You can use a special pillow and any accoutrements that feel good to you. I know a woman who has seven children; she meditates in her closet. Keep in mind as you practice more meditation it will get easier for you to just go inside, even in the midst of chaos. Over time you won’t even need any special tools to provide the answers you are seeking. There is no right or wrong in meditation, no pass or fail. All you have to do is try and you will reap the benefits.
Meditation is the key to living royally. When you quiet your mind you free yourself from the chatter, enabling you to see your self-worth clearly and pave the way to a more easeful, peaceful life.
Stacey Joiner
Taken from the teachings in You Deserve The Royal Treatment – A Woman’s Guide to Living Royally.
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