mastering meditation part 2 finding the funk 1260x542
9 Mar 2014

Mastering meditation – part two: finding the funk

2 mins to read
After many years of being successful at meditation as gelato in 40-degree heat – as in, not at all – I finally found inspiration a few months ago


As I mentioned in part one of this post, after many years of being successful at meditation as  gelato in  40-degree heat – as in, not at all – I finally found inspiration a few months ago via a book called Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity by film director David Lynch.

Here, Lynch says meditation expands your capacity for kindness and creativity.

I liked the message. I liked it more than fancy stats on how meditation would lower my blood pressure and stop me stressing. 

The trouble was this: Lynch is into transcendental meditation. This isn’t something, he says, you can pick up via podcasts or via step-by-step guides you can find on Google.

Essentially, you need to be taught this method in person.

And, well, I live in the NT, and let’s just say we’re a little out-of-stock on transcendental meditation studios up here!

Shortly after reading Lynch’s book, I started a course of life coaching through Skype.

My friend Anna had just finished the same course through a lady based in Sydney who needed practice clients in order to gain her accreditation.

Being a psychology and health writer, I am always up for a little mind-probing. I signed up tout de suite.
 
Turned out, the course was all about ‘healing your heart’. In essence, it’s the brainchild of a woman in the US called Debbie Ford and it focuses on getting you to locate the answers to your life’s questions – the crossroads you face – via your heart (or gut) rather than your head.

To do so, you need to learn to meditate. This gets you in touch with the ‘big fish’ down deep.

What I liked so much about the style of meditation proposed was that it was my own. I had to come up with a ‘place’ that I dipped down into, as well as all the furnishings for that beautiful place.

I chose a huge mountain, ringed by dark majestic pines, as well as a lake awash with crystal clear water and big stones that looked like smooth pebbles.

First I needed to concentrate on my breath, just for five breaths or so, and listen to it pool in and out of my lungs.

Then I needed to ‘drop down’ into the scene I created, and just be there in my imagination.

Finally, I added a mantra, a phrase or an intention.

This can be anything you like. It can be a phrase about the way you want to go about your day, or it can be thanks for the day you’ve just lived.

I chose to finish my meditation by rising up from my mountain lake and again, concentrating on my breath.

At first, I committed to meditating 3 times a week. I stopped for 3 weeks after that, and I felt my mind go ratty and my ability to listen to my gut got worse.

So I upped the ante. I started meditating for 5 minutes upon waking and for ten minutes upon going to bed. I used my iPhone’s alarm to tell me when time was up.

It’s been a month now, and I’m doing pretty well! I feel calmer, and I have to admit, I’ve had a few cracker ideas, too. The big fish are starting to enter my net….

I know it’s early days, but it feels fantastic.

Your turn: have you found a style of meditation that works for you?



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