Upon waking up, I love to start my day by centering myself. I have a few morning rituals that keep me centered and focused on my goals and beliefs, and my attempts to be more self-aware everyday! The most important ritual for me, is my meditation ritual. I have been doing it for two months now, and it has done wonders for all my personal and professional relationships.
I spent all of last semester researching meditation and mindfulness, and all the various ways of getting into a meditation practice. For me, the number one thing was time. Being in Theatre, I'm either rehearsing a scene, monologue, singing, or in class, so time is very important to me! So as to not get frustrated and give up, after day two, I suggest 10 minutes a day tops, to start, to get you acclimated to the deep concentration required for longer periods. :) Trying to be a Buddhist monk right from the day one by going an hour will not get you brownie points here :)
Getting Started:
1. Short time period (10-30 minutes/day)
2. Focus on the breath, keeping it regular, and think about it going in and out (even visualizing the air going in and out, deep in your lungs.)
3. Softly count the breathes either in your head or out whispering, but very deeply concentrating on the breathe going in and out.
4. This is where I shift to a mantra that I want to really integrate into my unconscious, and I do so by repeating it over and over, and deeply feel the words I am saying.
5. If you get off track in your head, which I do way too often with my crazy ADD-ness, you want to nicely pull yourself back, to the mantra, starting back at the beginning.
6. Repeat until you are done with your time period for the day.
Many studies have shown that even 10 minutes a day does wonders!
Tips:
1. For me, I think consistency is key, doing it everyday to keep it in your body, and fresh, and integrating the ideas more and more into your life.
2. I also find meditation/relaxation CD's to be a huge help. I love to listen to music that will softly wake you up at the end of the session. I will go into the specifics of the music at a later time. (HealingBeats.com is my favorite!)
3. Time and Place-Keep these consistent! For your body to be able to relax and take in the mantra.
Overall, this has seriously been one of the greatest things to ever come into my life. I have been told by many people that I appear to be more composed, have better concentration, and greater self-confidence. I have also noticed the stokes of insight and creativity that seem to come from nowhere, but happen all the time now! I carry a journal on me at all times never knowing when a big idea about school, family, love, or life might hit me!
My mantras are:
-Today, I am expanding in Love, Creativity, Insight and Imagination, as I pour those out to others.
-Today, I am expanding in Trust, Relaxation, and Taking the Big Leap, and Abundance, knowing I have all I need and want and will expand it.
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