30 Days of Meditation & Journaling
Background
The week of April 13th I did not feel like me. I felt stressed. I felt anxious. I withdrew. I felt like myself but not whole. Something had been off and I knew it for awhile. I equated it to being in a funk. Understanding that I am human and will work through this. I listen to myself and come up with plans of action.
That Friday I reached out to a close friend of mine. I typically keep to myself and work through things on my own. But I wanted to speak with someone who knows me well. My friend recommended I try journaling and meditation. To make my world as small as possible. Focus on the day I have and not to worry past that. You see I am a forward thinker. This was a shift for me but one that helps to center my focus.
The next day April 18th I started and have not looked back. I felt like I got my mojo back. Sure enough I went back to posting on social media, I did not feel a need to withdraw, I wanted to connect again in different ways but with purpose, mindfulness and focus.
This was not a 30 Day Challenge. This was just me taking care of myself. It hit me that it has almost been a month as I was writing what day I was on in my journal. And I said to myself would you look at that. It typically takes 30 days for something new to stick and slowly become embedded into ones lifestyle. Which is why I am open to trying new things for 30 days and beyond.
Meditation
I felt that I was meditating already meaning finding time everyday for some quiet BUT I needed to be more intentional. I needed to actually silence the noise and make a set time for this like I do with my exercise routine. I had dabbled in the past with meditation but did not keep it up.
I decided to meditate first thing in the morning. I wake up. Sit in my bed. Open the window shades to see the natural light and listen to the birds chirping outside. Set my timer. Close my eyes and go somewhere else.
I started using the The Ten Percent Happier App for guided meditation. Side note I love The Ten Percent Happier Podcast, all of their content focuses on mindfulness and meditation. If you are in my life chances are you have heard me talk about this. After the free guided meditations were done I quite honestly did not want to pay for an app. There are a lot of free apps but to continue beyond then the incentive to pay is there.
So I decided to just do it on my own. Sit in silence and guide myself. Why not? And I liked it!
I found a sweet spot for myself of 6 minutes. It just felt right.
At times during my meditation a feeling, a rush, comes over and I just smile. The feeling is where I am completely elsewhere. I have no thoughts, my mind is clear. This does not always happens but when it does I recognize it and immediately I am at peace.
Then a shift happened and I wanted to try 10 minutes and sure enough I found a new sweet spot.
There have been days where I have meditated twice. Typically because something comes up during the day where the noise/stress gets louder and I want to not let it control my day.
I look forward to my daily practice.
I am routine orientated and have added to this my morning routine.
Journaling
I write my thoughts all the time on the computer and/or my mobile device. Hence this blog! I love communication, words, all of it. I also majored in Communication Studies and was on a path to become a Journalist either print journalism or broadcast journalism.
My friend suggested that I actually use a pen and paper. Funny enough I use to keep journals for years and stopped when I started attending college. I went out and purchased a journal.
Day # 1 (April 18th) of journaling I cried. It was my longest entry of 5 pages. And I noticed as the days passed my entries shortened.
I like to journal at the end of the day.
I bookend my day. Meditate in the morning and journal in the evening. Again, I love routine.
In reviewing my journal I noticed things that popped out to me regarding my meditation practice:
On April 27th, Day # 10 - I had wrote “I meditated again, 10 days straight. I can do 6 minutes and it feels like 2 minutes. Till tomorrow”.
On April 30th, Day # 13 - I meditated twice.
On May 2nd Day # 15 - I wrote that I felt so calm. The calmest I felt in a long time.
On May 4th, Day # 17 - I mediated twice again.
On May 10th, Day #23 - I made a shift and meditated for 10 minutes for the first time. And kept with the 10 minutes.
Conclusion
So here I am on Day # 27 and I see myself doing this long term. I feel strong, clear and that this is what I need now.
I hope that sharing my personal experience can aide in your own personal journeys as you continue to work on your own personal fitness and nutrition goals.
If you have any questions, comments and/or want to discuss further please contact me. I would love to chat.
xoxoxo,
Jess
“The present moment is the only time over which we have domination”
