Meditating When Life is Already Too Full

I remember it like it was yesterday— the first times I meditated. A decade ago, me—a young mom with a rambunctious, anxious 9 year old and a toddler being potty trained, taking a 5 week cross-country road trip.

With a 40 day Personal Transformation book recommended from a friend, which only required a yoga mat and the book, I began. Each week there was a daily yoga practice, some journaling questions, and daily meditation. The first week was just 15 minutes of yoga and 5 minutes meditation morning and night. I figured, I can do that!

I set my timer, sat up in my bed and began to breathe in and out.

Eyes closed, no agenda, no planning, no to-do list. Just breathing until the timer went off.

The first thing I noticed was how luxurious it felt.

5 minutes just sitting before getting out of bed. Not checking email or planning the day. Just sitting and breathing.

Then I noticed feeling jumpy. Like, I need to get going! I have things to do!

Then remembering that I have time. 5 minutes.

Consciously choosing to settle back down until the timer went off.

Noticing how long that could feel. How good that could feel.

How guilty I could feel for spending time just for me, doing nothing.

Then I noticed feeling different throughout the day!

My thoughts started to shift. I started to find myself taking a breath before reacting to the kids. I felt calmer. More steady. I was less reactive.

Just 5 minutes—and the effects were felt all day long!

It felt so good, it became easy to schedule even though we were in a different spot every day and juggling lots of craziness on that road trip. It was worth it—and made the trip better too.

By the end of the 40 days, it was 30 minutes of meditating morning and evening and that was a commitment. But it was also an amazing opportunity to realize how much control I could have over how my day started and ended. It was a gift to myself—and to those around me!

Nowadays, we have all sorts of apps on our phones that we can use to meditate and those can be useful. Still, all that is truly necessary is a commitment to yourself and a timer. Sometimes though, it’s helpful to have community and a scheduled commitment to help us prioritize this type of activity in our busy lives.

Guided meditation can be another way to get quiet

enough to hear the still small voice within.

Having someone talk you through quieting your body down, listening to their voice can assist that precious time so you access the quiet more easily. Scheduling a monthly group meditation on your calendar can be a great way to keep yourself returning to this practice and committing to showing up for yourself. I know my family appreciates that I do this, because as I commit to this practice and to myself, I am able to show up for them in better ways.

Each month I offer a group guided meditation,

usually around the time of the New Moon.

Why New Moon? Well, as my friends and family who are nurses can attest, things can get a little crazy during the FULL MOON. Everything is heightened and energy swirls. It can be hard to find the calm. So we use the quiet, almost dormant space that the dark new moon time of the month offers. With less going on, we can more easily tune in and create that space to listen and to reset.

Feel free to visit my events and join us via Zoom for the next New Moon. Want to have guided meditation more than once a month? I created kits here which you can order and download the guided meditation to use as often as you like.

Have you tried meditating yet?

If I could do it on a 5 week road trip with kiddos, I bet you can find 5 minutes too!

If you do meditate, please comment and share your experiences and the benefits you notice!