By Rae McPherson

I was first introduced to meditation nearly 10 years ago.

Plagued with anxiety a psychologist introduced me to mindfulness and suggested a regular meditation practice to ease my troubled mind. At first it was too uncomfortable to “be” with my breath so I used guided meditation. Some days the anxious thoughts and their affects on my body made even that too uncomfortable.

I found that combining mindful breathing with jewelry, and eventually Mala making, allowed me to build a practice that was creative and sustainable.

I do a sitting practice and a walking practice as well. Meditation has changed my life in indescribable ways.  It’s not meant to be “perfect” so find ways to get started. Don’t be afraid if your practice doesn’t look like everyone else’s. Then find groups and resources that help your practice evolve. The Tattooed Buddha was really my first sangha. My mountain community is small, and I was still fairly new to the area when the meditation course ran a few years ago. It helped me deepen the practice and gave me a sense of community.

Meditation practice has been a gift of presence which I hope everyone can experience.

 

Did you like this post? You might also like:

 

The Faces of Meditation: Maureen McLaughlin

  By Maureen McLaughlin Before coming to Yasodhara Ashram, most of my meditation experience was with Tara Brach’s guided meditations, which I've been listening to for about seven years now. I’ve worked through a lot of anxiety in my life and those podcasts were a...

The Faces of Meditation: Che

By Che   Twelve years ago I sobered up and cleaned up. Up to that point I was finding fulfillment through substances, and then the Twelve Steps guided me to meditation, which has now become the center of fulfillment and healing for me. It sustains me. I just...

The Faces of Meditation: Dru Peers

  By Dru Peers   I first heard about meditation over the radio. A Buddhist monk was talking about the mind being a "still forest pool" where many animals came to drink, but in itself is always calm. Suffering from acute existential angst at the time, I bought a DIY...

The Faces of Meditation: Peter Schaller

    By Peter Schaller I am not always as disciplined as I should be about meditation, but it is a practice that has brought me a lot of peace and focus in my life. Sitting meditation, for at least 10 minutes a day, gives us three precious things that are so...

Comments

comments