“If the ocean can calm itself, so can you. We are both saltwater mixed with air.” --Nayyirah Waheed
How do you feel today? Really, pause and consider the answer to this question.
See if you can go just a little deeper than “fine, I’m okay, thanks.”
If you notice that your spark is a little dim, brain fog is getting you down, a state of constant worry has settled in, and you need a crane to lift yourself off the couch, you could be languishing. And it’s NOT just a literary term...languishing is a condition we can experience after many months of uncertainty, huge community and cultural upheaval, worry, and the sense that our “normal” is never coming back.
It’s not that we’re in a constant crisis at this stage of the uncertain state of our world (at least, I hope you have some stability, access to peaceful moments, and plenty of support.) It’s that there’s not much we can count on and we’ve all likely lost a lot of our previous "normal" lives.
We feel that continual loss in many different ways that can sneak up on us unnoticed because we’re “fine,” (Feelings Inside Not Expressed) but not thriving. After waking up and feeling “not yourself” for days and weeks at a time, languishing sets in, and it sucks.
And though mental health treatments abound for languishing, there is a practice you can cultivate this week to lift your mood and connect you more deeply to resilience, confidence, and even JOY.
It's meditation. (And it’s perhaps not as “woo-woo” as you may have previously believed.)
Meditation has long been proven effective in improving physical and mental health conditions like:
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
And it can be a crucial, convenient, and stress relieving resource--right now.
Helpful Tips for Practice
We know meditation can feel uncomfortable. The minute you sit down to meditate, your mind starts going a mile a minute with busy thoughts and your body starts feeling uncomfortable. We have been there too and understand how meditation can feel out of reach. In this video, Les offers a few strategies to help you gain access to the deeper benefits of meditation. Whether you are a beginner or a long-time meditator, these strategies are great reminders!
- Start with movement: There are so many benefits to moving your body before meditation, including--moving energy for easier stillness, physical comfort in the body, deeper connection to yourself and your experience.
- For a deeper dive into this topic, check out this article or this article.
- Use our 21-Day Movement and Meditation Challenge to help you incorporate these two powerful practices in your life.
- Let go of expectations: Allow meditation to be what it is for you in the present moment. You cannot clear your mind completely. Let go of comparisons to previous practices and other people's practices.
- Follow a guide: This can be helpful when you are just getting started or if you are feeling extra distracted and just need the nurturing support of a facilitator.
- Give this short guided practice a try.
Where do I Begin?
Start with this series of meditations as a first time experience or a re-entry into a past practice that has been on the back burner.
Additionally, our Foundations of Meditation and Mindfulness Course (now being offered for FREE) can help you build a solid meditation base so that you can begin to recover from the symptoms of languishing.
It’s possible to rekindle your spark, find fulfillment, and claim JOY even as the world's uncertainty wears on.
When we change the things we CAN (our bodies, our minds, our connection to community, our response to experiences), there is much depth, meaning, and RELIEF to discover once again.
Let me invite you to get acquainted with the power of your mind in the quest for peace and confidence.
Here’s the link to get started with our FREE Foundations of Meditation and Mindfulness Course. Get started now and you have lifetime access to the material. Better yet, recruit a friend and accountability buddy to do the course with you.
I’m excited to welcome you warmly into our cozy container of self-care and inner calm when the world won’t stop swirling and let you have a break. Pull up a cushion and start feeling the RELIEF that mediation can provide, in only 10 minutes a few times per week.
We feel meditation is so extremely valuable in a time that we all could use a little support for mental health, and that's why we have decided to offer this course completely free of charge. If you feel called to make a donation to our scholarship fund, it would be greatly appreciated.
Sara and Les
The Mindful Movement
PS: Here’s the enrollment link for when you’re ready to join us. In the meanwhile, take good care.
Additional Resources:
Members Oasis for: Unlimited access to all Mindful Movement Meditations and Hypnosis Practices; Exclusive Members Only Content added EVERY month; Practice anytime, anywhere.
Purchase your favorite Meditation and Hypnosis practices from the Mindful Movement. You can download an MP3 file to listen to anytime, anywhere with no internet access necessary.
A personalized hypnotherapy session can support you in making a change you desire. It would be my honor to help you through the process of change that you are looking for.
Let us know how we can help. Please feel to leave a comment with any other suggestions, comments, or questions for the community!