Meditation and Mantra

In life there comes a time when we have a series of life changes events, birth, death, break up, it's the same pattern for most of us. If not, then lucky you, or it could be a case of not yet, so get prepared!

We aren’t really taught how to deal with these unexpected events. A few years back I had my “unexpected event’ I had to find a way of coming through the process. I was determined that I had to tools to get me through and I certainly was not going to allow this event to ruin my life.  The mind and body have certain coping mechanisms to deal with such stresses and to some degree, we may feel we don’t have any control over the situation (and we probably don’t), we muddle through the best we can, and our friends and families help in the best ways they can too.   If it’s a shocking event, it often leaves all the people around us in shock and fear too. Once the event is over and the realisation that your life is going to continue but be maybe a bit different than before, you have to then pick yourself up and move on into a new life.  Again, we have to do a bit of trial and error work but eventually and hopefully we find ways that work for us.  I was determined to live the best life I could with what I have to offer and one thing that came out of it was that I wanted to help others in some way. 

Hopefully, you won’t have any traumatic events in your life. but chances if you don’t someone around you probably will.  Listening with compassion and making the person feel safe and cared for is an important factor you can give them. Finding the best way to support a friend or family member can often bring up your own fears about your life and you may find yourself in a position where you don’t know how to help them.  You can only follow your own intuition and wisdom and by going by meditating daily this is one way to connect with yourself and in doing so you are connected to your own innate wisdom and guidance.

Here are some tips that helped me:

MEDITATION

A daily meditation practice - it sounds hard work but actually, it's easy, enjoyable and your mind and body love it! Breathing is the key to life, so meditation is a way of focusing on the breath and bringing harmony within, therefore helping you deal with the daily stress of life. 

Try it, it costs nothing and can really bring about some welcome changes in your habits in life.

Choose a meditation technique

1. Download app Sadhguru is my meditation of choice (Read his book Inner Engineering - a practical guide to life)
2. Download Calm
3. Listen to a guided meditation - check them out on Spotify first before buying
4. Use a mantra of your choice- a Mala helps remind you to say the mantra 108 times

Establish a morning routine

1. Create a space of 15-20 minutes to practice your meditation technique. Just do it and get on with your day.

2. During the day check in and see how you feel? Do a few deep breaths and let go of your stress or stretch for your body. 

3. Do you have a Monkey Mind?  Are you repeatedly going over problems or scenarios in your head?  Repeat a mantra and dissolve this nonsense. It works! You can say it in your head or sing it out loud.  Alternatively, just listen to a mantra and feel the harmony it brings to your mind and body. Sound frequency is a very powerful self-healing tool.

4. Use and wear a mala to remind you to meditate, and use your mantra for optimal health. Choose from a selection of Malas from the Mala Mantra Maker catalogue.

5. Be the observer to your thoughts, what is your mind thinking about? Question your thoughts? 

6. Be kind to yourself and others you will feel so much better in yourself. Kindness costs nothing and brings happiness to yourself and others.

7. Smile - when you smile you actually start to feel better, as there are marma points around your mouth. 

8. Walk in nature or focus on a plant or beautiful flower by focusing your mind on this you will be connecting with nature and also your inner self.  Watch the way the leaves blow in the wind.  Keep focusing and as you focus you relax your mind, body and soul.

A simple mantra to bring peace: 

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti (Peace to your mind, body and spirit)