I’m stating the obvious when I say that my life and the lives of everyone on the planet were dramatically altered by COVID 19. In the beginning, the virus was a distant concern in a far-off land. It quickly became very REAL, sending us into a collective shock. COVID -19 was the unwelcomed, sinister, global visitor forcing us into isolation. Once we began adapting to the new normal and settled into our domestic confinement, we clamoured to create some normalcy. We craved some routine that would hint at our previous lives. For me, that routine was not complete without meditation.
The isolation created an opportunity to make improvements either to ourselves or our homes. What did we do with all that spare time? We had so many options! There were at-home workouts, Netflix binges, immersive social media, baking, cleaning the kitchen drawer, panic or all of the above.
Time to Explore our inner worlds
For many, it was the perfect time to explore the world of meditation. We’ve all heard of the benefits. Before COVID, meditation was in the When I get some time; I’d like to start… basket. WELL, time was abundant, and we had an opportunity to connect with our true selves. We needed to give our brains a break from incessant thinking. Thousands of us took advantage of the technology and downloaded meditation apps.
Luckily, I was prepared ahead of time. By some mysterious stroke of luck, I’d experienced extreme stress one year before COVID, which forced me to focus on meditation to help me cope. I decided to commit to quieting my mind every morning and developed the habit of meditation. I was amazed; it wasn’t hard to do. (Well, there were things I learned about myself that were hard to swallow, BUT the actual act of meditation was not that hard.) I noticed that the “me” time was helping me handle situations that would’ve previously sent me down a rabbit hole of self-criticism or negativity, and boy, did I lean on this during COVID!
The best gift for yourself and loved ones
Real-life shit was still happening daily, but I was able to give it a bit of space and say. Oh, that is some shit happening, hmm. I wonder what that’s all about? I found a new appreciation for my family and my work. Committing to meditating was the most significant gift I’d ever given myself and those around me who’ve been dealing with my unique brand of crazy for years.
When I started the process, I noticed thoughts that took me on different paths; my mind was hectic, continually trying to figure everything out and solve any problem it could get its neurons on. I noticed I started to form an obsession with trying to get into a perfect meditative state. I’d experienced what felt perfect a few times, which was incredible! A blissful sense of peace, stillness, and space, like being bathed in the fresh air. The experience is kind of impossible to describe. But after MORE practice, I realised that “trying” to get to that perfect state every time defeats the purpose. The point is NOT to try anything for a few minutes.
Forget Perfect, aim for consistency
There is no perfect state; there is only the current state of being, like where you are right now. Accepting and embracing your current state instead of wrestling with what IS, is what you will learn through consistent meditation. It’s like a workout. Not every workout is 10 out of 10 high-intensity PBs; go for gold. Some workouts suck, some are boring, some are motivating, some are amazing. Everyone is worthwhile and something you don’t regret doing.
The same goes for meditation. It’s all good, don’t worry about doing it right. There is no right or wrong way. Each sitting is unique, and each moment is special. Explore each meditation as another chance to connect to your inner being, which is more powerful than you know.
You’re doing it right
So, don’t worry about doing it right; find a time to sit, take a few deep breathes, close your eyes and ask yourself, what is here NOW? Keep breathing and listen.
