Meditation is all the rage these days and for good reason. With smartphones attached to our hands like wedding rings, there is always a place to turn for distractions. But don’t feel like you have to wear a robe and retreat to some mountaintop to live a life in the “now.” The tenants of meditation are clearly outlined in the bible. Jesus himself retreats several times and encourages us throughout his life to be fully present in the moment.
But how to do it? I’ve practiced a few different methods to remind myself that every moment counts. See what works for you and tell me in the comments below.
1. Sit and breathe
The classic approach is to set that alarm 10 minutes before you usually wake up. Find a quiet place, close your eyes in an easy pose and . . . breathe. That’s it. Every time a thought arises, notice it and happily wish it on it’s way. Know that this is supposed to be “hard.” Because we are often addicted to our thoughts and doing things, as Richard Rohr likes to say. So be kind to yourself, and see what happens when you try this for a week. It doesn’t get easier, but the habit forms. The key here is to gather all the tools you’ll need to be more fully present. Sitting in a formal meditation posture is just one option for you.
2. Wait in the longest line (or lane)
So counterintuitive, but then so is much of the Bible (the first will be last, etc. etc). Get in the slowest lane on your commute to work, and find the longest Costco line. After you do, resist the temptation to watch everyone going slower than you and just BE. Observe your thoughts, be aware of your surroundings. Fully embrace the fact that you’re there, inch by inch as that line moves forward. I have to say I don’t always use this one, but a funny thing happens when I do. Usually, I catch up to the car that passes me, or the family that darts to the shortest line. Interesting, no?
3. Turn the music (or podcast) off
If you spend a lot of time in the car, try and use it as your very own meditation device. Meaning no mult-tasking by listening to music, or a podcast. This was a beloved ritual for me, and so very hard to break. But I realize by my addition to it, I was never fully in the moment. How quickly we want to escape! But why? Life is lived here, and God needs your full attention on what’s going on around you. So turn off the music, save the data on your phone for that podcast, and just DRIVE. Observe the lights, the cars around you, the feel of the petal below your foot. Every ordinary action becomes extortionary, if only we pay attention.
4. Go for a walk
On your walk to/from work, or out for a stroll, begin to observe your thoughts–and let them go by. Focus on the nature around you, if you are lucky, or the people you pass along the way. If you capture the moment, you’ll see it feels very much like traveling. Even though you’ve worn this path many times before, the tree looks new–that building seems different. It’s because you are truly seeing/observing them for the first time.
Giving life the rapt attention it deserves should never be a fad. If you can make these habits part of your life, you can live more fully in the moment. God meant for life to be a gift. As long as you have breath in your lungs, you are important to him and so very loved. So return the love, be here now!
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