#1 Meditation is not as ZEN as you think
Just be.
The state of being and focusing on this very second is, in itself, a form of meditation.
When it comes to meditation, there is something very zen about even saying the word. At that moment, it almost feels romantic to think about it. An ideal image of us sitting gently with legs crossed, a soft breeze combing through our hair, and dazzling morning sunlight creeping through the window.
But have you ever noticed that when you actually have the time and space, you have to move through SO MANY physical and mental blocks to finally get your butt to sit down? Because all of a sudden, a million small things pop into your head. And the most frustrating part is that those gently crossed legs are not so gentle anymore. They are sore and stiff. The breeze sits in awkward silence. You start feeling the itchiness of hair at the neckline, a heaviness on your skin, and that dazzling sunlight is kind of hot on your face.
I get it. :)
It is not our nature to sit in silence, let alone in perfect forms. Here is the thing.
||The moment we try to achieve zen by performing a perfect form, we have already lost it.||
Because zen is not a destination, and it cannot be forced into a shape. It can only be felt.
So before anything else, be mindful and align your intention. Ask yourself honestly: why am I here, right now? What am I truly looking for? (This takes raw honesty!!!)
||Once your true intention is set, your mind, body, and spirit will naturally follow.||
Meditation can happen anywhere, and it can take place in any form. It encompasses both the still and the active, sitting and moving. You can meditate through dancing, painting, jogging, sitting, standing. As long as you are focused, mindful, relaxed, and most importantly, present.
||Just be. The state of being and focusing on this very second is, in itself, a form of meditation.||
A slow, long, steady breath out. That exhalation creates a gentle vibration that allows the air inside you to begin moving and circulating. The goal is to bring the breath all the way down, deep below the belly button, letting your mind and energy settle there, below the navel. And then just keep going. Gentle, stable, unhurried breaths, one after another, quietly cultivating that stillness within.
||You do not need to perform peace. Just return to yourself, and find it right where you left it.||
Feeling the pure, fresh air filling your lungs, and with every exhale, releasing all the weight you have been carrying. Let each breath be a quiet reminder: you are here, you are alive, and that is enough.
“Now” is a powerful word. Because no moment, not a single one, can ever be relived.
So the easiest yet hardest meditation practice I want you to carry with you is simply this.
|| JUST BE and BREATHE.||
Breathe in, and slowly, gently control your exhale. If breathing in feels difficult, start with the exhale instead.
||The past is gone. The future is not here. All you have is now and your breath.||
Your peace is yours to find. There is no perfect pose, no right way, no one-size-fits-all. Just like a certain big fluffy panda once learned, the secret ingredient is you. So skip, waddle, sit, stretch, breathe, or dance your way there. Your inner peace has been waiting, and it looks exactly like you.
ヾ(´〇｀)ﾉMichelle's reminder:
◠ As you settle into that long, steady exhale, through the mouth or the nose, gently remind yourself to let those rocks on your shoulders drop, and soften your ribcage down.
◠ Imagine the air coming in as clear, fresh energy from the universe, and with every breath, guide that energy all the way down, below the belly button, into the ꩜ little sun꩜ you are quietly cultivating there.
◠ With every inhale and exhale, you are nourishing that light. Feeding it. Growing it into something warmer, steadier, and brighter.
||Quality over quantity. Please do not stress over how long you sit or meditate. Start small, start short, and just start.||
٩(●˙▽˙●)۶Something to Try:
☐ Morning — Before you reach for your phone, breathe slowly for 5 minutes. Set the tone before the day begins.
☐ Lunch — Lean back in your chair, close your eyes, and breathe for 5 minutes. That is all.
☐ Night — Get to bed 5 minutes earlier. No scrolling. Just lie down and let your breath carry you to sleep.
