It seems that no matter where I am in life, it is always busy. I don’t know how many times I have said, “Next week will be less busy”, but of course that doesn’t seem to happen.
Deep down, I know I should slow down and live more in the moment, but this is definitely a work in progress. I have heard about and I am very interested in the “slow movement” that others have embraced, but I am just not there yet. Besides, I am pretty sure that being intentional in this area would take constant maintenance. Slowing down is a journey, not a destination.
That being said, what can I do on my very slow journey to slowing down? Meditation is my current answer.
For some people, meditation accompanies a certain stereotype – someone sitting cross-legged on a mat and saying “om” a lot. But, meditation encompasses a whole lot more – actually, it can be whatever you want it to be. For some people, it can involve walking. For others, it might be praying. Whatever it is for you, it is about connecting with the present and simply just “being” – at least that is how I think of it.
What do I do? I spend 5 to 15 minutes daily just visualizing something (such as a beautiful field of flowers) and focusing on it, acknowledging but then letting go of any other thoughts that pop up during that time.
Of course, there are tons of resources available on meditation, and I don’t have a strong preference for any of them. What I do find appealing, though, is there is evidence out there that meditation has many benefits, and a lot of people claim it positively contributes to several aspects of their health. I agree with that sentiment, and I can also notice a difference in my day when I meditate vs. when I don’t. Overall, I feel that meditation makes my life just a little less busy, regardless of any other efforts I make to slow down.