Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my morning routine is daily meditation. The first documented practice of meditation dates as far back as 1500 BC. So it’s not a new fad, it’s an enduring ancient practice of pursuing inner peace, and its benefits are well-documented.

I had a fairly well-established morning routine, and as someone who measures the return on investment of time very carefully, I didn’t see the immediate value of meditation at first, but then I thought to try it to see how it would work for me, and I was amazed by what it did for me. Meditation did not produce any measurable scientific results, but what I got out of it was a greater sense of peace, stillness, and gratitude. I was also able to face the stress and the intensity of my daily life with greater ease, poise, and strength. I have come to depend on meditation for daily centering, and I feel the difference on the days that I don’t.

I’ve come to find that there is no right or wrong way to meditate. The key is that by the end, you feel more grateful, centered, and at peace than when you started. For me, meditation is about breathing and allowing my mind to go where it will within some straw-fences. Meditation experts say that I should probably clear my mind, but for someone like me whose mind is like New York City, I’ve let go of trying to shut down my mind but rather focus on several key items.

I’m someone who enjoys both structure and a little free play, so my meditation is a balance of structured thinking and mindful wandering. What I do for my own personal meditation is:

• Think about 3 things I am grateful for right now
• Think about who I am, and the best version of myself I want to become
• Think about what I want most for myself and my life
• Think about a moment where I recently felt overwhelmed by love or gratitude
• Concentrate on my breathing and heartbeat, and then allow myself to settle so I can sense my heartbeat pulsating in my hands.

And that where I typically finish my meditation.

Are you wondering how long all this takes? I set aside 8 minutes every day. That’s it. Remember, I want to do this daily so it has to be doable and sustainable. At an average of 8 minutes, it totally is. I’ve learned meditation doesn’t need to be a daily marathon, just a few minutes a day sets me on the right foot, and the long term effects on my mind, soul, and body can’t be measured. After all, how do you measure feeling centered, present, joyful, and at peace (well actually I’m working on a set of measures for those very things) If I’m honest, It helps me to be a better human being, and truly that is the outcome that truly matters.