Final Mindful In May Reflections

One of my challenges is to keep holding the space for meditation each day. My preference is to meditate just when I wake but it’s not always possible as my children might wake needing my assistance. Sometimes I only manage to meditate at night and might drift to sleep whilst meditating. So I’d like to be more regularly able to sit and meditate without being really drowsy. Also, it’s a challenge with keeping my focus during the meditation, so I like the gentle reminders to return back to the breath to reconnect me to being mindful and present.

My initial and main motivation is to manage stress, anxiety and depression. However, I am also very interested in the health benefits meditation offers for mind and body, for clarity of mind, and for greater self-awareness and trust through noticing the physical cues in my body, feelings and identifying the needs and values that are alive in me. My hope is that it will contribute to greater ease in living into my truth, assist in decision making in life and help me detach from unhelpful thought patterns and material possessions. I am longing to simplify life and more easily have the clarity to prioritise how I choose to spend my time so it is contributing to my feeling of joy and giving to others to make our experience in the world more wonderful.

It’s been a wonderful learning curve so far and I look forward to a lifetime of meditation and mindfulness. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in Mindful in May and for the incredible support it has provided in nurturing this beginner in meditation and mindfulness.

By Veronika O’Brien

1. What is something new you have discovered about mindfulness meditation or being mindful since starting MIM?

Something new I have discovered about being mindful is that I can step back in my day-to-day happenings, take a pause, and remove the stressful feelings around a situation when it arises. I stop, I tune into the speed of my heart beating, I listen to my breath, I can almost see the thoughts as words passing before my eyes, and I let them wash past me. The tension in my body disappears. I feel clear.

2. Have you noticed any benefits, big or small, since starting the challenge? Share what you’ve noticed.

Not only have I noticed that I can handle negative emotion much easier, I have been able to reach a point of stillness and relaxation much quicker, and interruptions don’t phase me, as I can go back where I was with ease.

I have also noticed that I am mindful when I run. I zone into the breath, and the pace of my feet, and the pain and discomfort I used to focus on and how far I had to go doesn’t hinder me. I am enjoying it more than I ever did 🙂

3. What are some challenges you’ve experienced so far with respect to meditation or mindfulness practice?

A challenge I have found with being mindful and getting in my mindful practice is that I have to choose a ten-minute time frame where I am unlikely to be needed by my two small children. Some days I have been lucky to find the baby napping in the day and the other at school, but a lot of the time, I have had to wait until all in bed and my day is over. The challenge then is not to wander off and fall asleep in my meditation 😉

4. Why do you meditate?

I meditate because I believe that emptying my mind for a small amount of time each day is beneficial to my health. Like my physical body, it needs exercise and rest too. By taking on this challenge I have been accountable to do my mindful practice every day, something I may not have made time to do normally. I also love that by joining this challenge I helped myself and others. I hope I have inspired my friends to try mindfulness and hopefully join in the challenge next May.

5. Anything else you would like to share about your experience so far?

I have loved this challenge so much. Each day I look forward to my ten minutes of pure me time.

I have loved my daily email and looked forward to each meditation. I have experimented with sitting up, lying down, day time, night time, in the sunlight, in the moonlight (gorgeous full moon last two nights to bathe in:) ) inside, outside.

I especially loved the compassion meditation.

My most favourite thing of all is the bell sound at the end of the meditations. It is the most Divine sound! It is like an amazing massage for my brain. It’s frequency resonates through me like a warm hug. I just adore that sound 🙂
Is it just me or do other people go crazy for the bell sound?

By Carly Owen

1. What is something new you have discovered about mindfulness meditation or being mindful since starting MIM?

One great thing I’ve learned about the practice of meditation is it shouldn’t just be an isolated “moment” or “time” during your day, but rather a mindset…mindful mediation has really helped me with my schoolwork, my connections with friends, and even how I eat meals, I love utilising meditation as another perspective on life.

2. Have you noticed any benefits, big or small, since starting the challenge? Share what you’ve noticed.

I’ve noticed I’m calmer and more careful about my body language, word choice, and simply how I perceive everything around me…all fairly subtle changes, but impactful nonetheless.

3. What are some challenges you’ve experienced so far with respect to meditation or mindfulness practice?

Focusing on the breath and letting go of my thoughts has been challenging at times (I love the analogy of watching your thoughts go by on a movie screen), but I’d say continual mindfulness throughout the day has been the most difficult aspect. When I’m with friends, in class, etc I often forget about all the meditation I did the night before, but the more reflection I do, the easier it’ll be.

4. Why do you meditate?

I meditate to lose myself, to detach from my thoughts, habits, plans, everything. I’m only 21, but I’ve never felt the sense of peace and serenity I get after opening my eyes from a meditation session…I can tell why it’s literally an art form with seemingly endless benefits! I’ve relatively new at this but I guarantee I will practice mediation and mindfulness for the rest of my life.

5. Anything else you would like to share about your experience so far?

I’ve recently discovered a passion for global health and I was so excited to see charity:water having a partnership with a meditation group…I knew it would be some of the best money I’ve spent in a while and I’m so thankful for all of you who set up this month of self-reflection and growth. You Aussies know how to live life!

Ben D.