Lazy Inspired Meditation

I sit and try to be “mindful.”  I’m irritated and my knee itches.  I am a meditation failure.  How can I be a failure at “just being?” 

As I sit and try to meditate my mind races and I think of all the things I should be doing or, I think of ridiculous things.  Did you know that some sea snakes breathe through their skin?  It’s true!  And not relevant.  Sorry, I digress. 

Fact is I simply stink at meditation.

Thankfully I have a cat named Lazy.

If you have watched any of my lives you know that Lazy is a BIG presence in my life.  He is a big and beautiful cat that will NOT leave me alone. 

I would have classified myself as a “dog person” before he came into my life.  Now?  I love that lazy cat!

Every time he crawls into my arms, and I find myself breathing deeper, relaxing, and hugging him closer.  I concentrate on his purring and just let everything else go.  It is a gift.

Wait!  I am meditating! 

I find that his purring really helps me.  I can listen to that, and it just transports me to another place.    

If you find that you are having a hard time meditating, you should know that there are other ways to bring this beneficial practice into your life.

One of the first things to always remember is to never judge yourself when trying to meditate. Meditation is an ongoing practice and can get uncomfortable sometimes. Finding comfort in the discomfort is key. Buddy up with someone else who is looking to add meditation benefits into their lives for added support or make it a group activity. This lessens the “seriousness” while still gaining all the wonderful benefits.

Breathe nice and easy. Let your natural breath flow without force. If you force yourself to breathe a certain way or are too focused on the “how to breathe” you aren’t letting yourself relax into your natural state of being. So, take a deep breath in, let it out and notice your natural inhales and exhales after this.

One of the things most people believe is you have to have your eyes closed during meditation. This, in fact, is not true. So, number two is if you don’t want to close your eyes, or want to try not closing your eyes, you can gently lower your lids and bring your focus to a space on the ground in front of you. Some say that having a focus point allows them to maintain a focus on their breathing instead of their thoughts.

You can also keep your eyes open and practice mindful meditation with your senses. When your eyes are open they are open to all that surrounds you. So next time you’re having trouble with focusing on your breath in a seated, closed eye meditation, try sitting there with your eyes open and take in your surroundings. Name a few things you see, feel, hear, smell and maybe even taste. This brings you into the present moment, which is exactly what meditation is!

You can even add walking into the mix and do a walking senses meditation. While you take your pets or children for a nice walk around the block or through the woods, take mental notes of what those senses of yours are experiencing.

When you are focused on the here and now, your thoughts aren’t on overdrive, they (you) are enjoying the moment. Have you ever heard of people claiming that dancing, cooking, biking, hiking, reading, gardening, etc. is their form of meditation? Well, it very much can be!

Meditation can be in any form of bringing yourself into the present and silencing the thoughts that bring on the stress, frustration, and worries. So next time you are ready to try out meditation, check in with yourself. Ask what you can do today that would help you be mindful and do that.

Whether its loving on a pet like I found helps me, or taking a stroll down the street, meditating will bring an immense sense of being to your life where the benefits are immeasurable!