Why Meditate?
Upgrade your Happiness Now
Have you experienced any of the following?
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- Poor sleep
- Anxiety
- Repetitive worrisome thoughts
- A feeling that there is more to you
- Grumpy for no particular reason
- Lack of joy
- Brain-fog
- Tired every day
- Irritable around those you love
The Journey
“Happy But Not Happy”
Recently, I was sitting at a bar in Cork City watching the US Masters golf tournament on the television. A chap about my age sat down beside me and we started shooting the breeze about golf and then anything else that popped into our heads. It turned out he was a successful architect and owned his own business. He had recently won the contract for a major building project and everything was going great for him at work. I mentioned to him throughout the course of the conversation that I was a meditation teacher. He seemed very keen to find out more and I sensed there was a reason. He then said something that will stick with me for a long time to come.
I immediately got it. So many of us feel this way at some point in our lives. He explained how he loved his wife, he had amazing healthy kids and a company that was thriving. But something was missing. He had achieved many of the milestones that we all strive for but he just wasn’t feeling it. He was happy but not happy. Sometimes we can feel guilty or foolish when we admit that we aren’t happy in spite of all the wonderful people and things in our lives. It can seem like we are spoiled or ungrateful and this feeling of guilt can just make us feel worse. So why was this hardworking dad feeling happy but not happy? Because he had lost touch with himself. His true self.
Why Meditate?
Meditation reconnects us with that part of ourselves that gets lost. It’s that part of ourselves we know was there when we were kids, when there wasn’t all this…stuff! With new studies emerging every day, science shows us that a regular meditation practice can actually change the physical qualities of our brain, shrinking our fear centres and growing our capacity for feeling joy, confident and well…happy!
What I will teach you:
How to begin meditating
Finding a style that suits you
Tips to keep your practice going so it works
Tips to Make Meditation Work for You
There is no need to sit like your legs are tied like a pretzel! Pick a favorite chair, sit up on your bed, use cushions, blankets, whatever it takes to get comfortable. If you’re comfy, you’re less likely to get distracted and way more likely to come back and do it again the next day. Lying down is not really recommended as you might nod off and miss all the fun!
There is a common misconception that to meditate successfully, you must clear your mind of all thoughts. We have between 60,000 and 80,000 thoughts per day, so even Yoda would struggle with clearing away all of them! Allow your thoughts to come and go and be prepared – the weirdest things will pop into your head! The important thing is when we notice our mind has wandered, we gently bring it back to the focus of our attention.
In meditation, we focus our attention on one thing – our breath, a word or phrase or even a piece of chocolate in our mouth (one of my favorites!) Choose a method that feels best for you. If you can’t decide, guided meditations are great for beginners. See below for some of my recommendations on where to go to get them.
So many people I talk to say they enjoyed starting meditation but couldn’t seem to keep meditating. The best way to build a solid practice is to build it into your daily routine. We do it with the gym, our tea, our coffee, our emails, why not our mental self care?! My favorite kickstarters were created by my teacher, Davidji, and really got me going. These are RPM and RAW. RPM stands for “Rise, Pee, Meditate”, which means we do it every morning before we check that phone or touch that kettle. It really sets me up for the day. RAW stands for “Right After Work”. I especially love this one as it allows me to start releasing all the stress I’ve gathered throughout the day. Then I’m more calm and present for my kids when they want to complain about the WiFi not working!
There are so many people and free resources out there that can really help you get started and keep it going. My favorite app is Insight Timer. It’s free and there are thousands of meditations from many different teachers on it. Other apps like Headspace and Calm are great too but there may be a fee. I also love going to group meditations. It can be really fun and reassuring for beginners so check if there’s one in your area. Or why not pick a teacher that could guide you through the early stages? Imagine it like a personal trainer for your brain! Try my guided meditations on this page and get on the road to a calmer mind.
Tips to Make Meditation Work for You
There is no need to sit like your legs are tied like a pretzel! Pick a favorite chair, sit up on your bed, use cushions, blankets, whatever it takes to get comfortable. If you’re comfy, you’re less likely to get distracted and way more likely to come back and do it again the next day. Lying down is not really recommended as you might nod off and miss all the fun!
There is a common misconception that to meditate successfully, you must clear your mind of all thoughts. We have between 60,000 and 80,000 thoughts per day, so even Yoda would struggle with clearing away all of them! Allow your thoughts to come and go and be prepared – the weirdest things will pop into your head! The important thing is when we notice our mind has wandered, we gently bring it back to the focus of our attention.
In meditation, we focus our attention on one thing – our breath, a word or phrase or even a piece of chocolate in our mouth (one of my favorites!) Choose a method that feels best for you. If you can’t decide, guided meditations are great for beginners. See below for some of my recommendations on where to go to get them.
So many people I talk to say they enjoyed starting meditation but couldn’t seem to keep meditating. The best way to build a solid practice is to build it into your daily routine. We do it with the gym, our tea, our coffee, our emails, why not our mental self care?! My favorite kickstarters were created by my teacher, Davidji, and really got me going. These are RPM and RAW. RPM stands for “Rise, Pee, Meditate”, which means we do it every morning before we check that phone or touch that kettle. It really sets me up for the day. RAW stands for “Right After Work”. I especially love this one as it allows me to start releasing all the stress I’ve gathered throughout the day. Then I’m more calm and present for my kids when they want to complain about the WiFi not working!
There are so many people and free resources out there that can really help you get started and keep it going. My favorite app is Insight Timer. It’s free and there are thousands of meditations from many different teachers on it. Other apps like Headspace and Calm are great too but there may be a fee. I also love going to group meditations. It can be really fun and reassuring for beginners so check if there’s one in your area. Or why not pick a teacher that could guide you through the early stages? Imagine it like a personal trainer for your brain! Try my guided meditations on this page and get on the road to a calmer mind.
