I can't do what you do
Nov 01, 2022
I can’t do what you do.
It’s easy for you.
I have [fill in the blank] happening in my life... it's consuming.
I have no time.
I’m not disciplined.
Welp, neither was I. When I found my meditation practice in October 2007, I was an on-call crisis counselor. I carried a pager(!!), regularly was woken up in the middle of the night to go to a crisis - or was up all night attending to multiple crises, I had little motivation or discipline, little direction, and I had no idea what I wanted to do next.
For years, my day started at 8:30am (or later). I woke up, cracked an ice cold can of Diet Coke and turned on Charmed (yes, the one about the witches starring Alyssa Milano). Then, I’d get out of bed, get ready, and head into work which started sometime between 10am and lunch. Lunch was often takeout with co-workers, or a 2 cheeseburger meal and 80 ounce Diet Coke (sheesh I loved Diet Coke) eaten in the car, alone, and on my way to a crisis evaluation.
Glamourous and inspiring, right? Ha. But, that was my reality. And at some point, it stopped working for me. My stress and anxiety increased, I felt more depressed. I wanted to feel passionate about my work again. I wanted a more normal schedule. I was longing for spiritual connection and to know myself.
By the time I entered my first class, I was desperate. When I practiced the yoga & meditation, I felt a range of emotions that I hadn’t felt in a very long time and certainly not in such a short period of time. I felt hopeful, connected, and aware that this was what I needed. I came back to class the following week and began a daily practice that day. This means that every day, sometime between waking up and going to sleep, I took 15 minutes for my practice. It sure wasn’t perfect, I had no idea what I was really doing, or even how I should be doing it. But I resolved to do it, and I did.
I kept that practice up for 40 consecutive days (it takes 40 days to create a habit) and noticed that I felt calmer, more hopeful, connected to my spiritual self, and was able to release chronic pain and tension from my neck. As a result of this experience, I resolved to another 40 day practice, then another. And now, it’s a no-brainer, I start my day by walking my dogs and then we all sit on my mat for meditation. Similar to how I started my day with a Diet Coke and Charmed so many years ago. The main difference is this intentional practice nourishes my mind, body and spirit and starts my day internally focused and in connection with myself and my soul.
Today is the first day of the month, and we're nearing the beginning of the holiday season. Pour into yourself. Nourish yourself. Connect with yourself and your soul, so that you can show up the most radiant version of yourself. Start with this One Simple Breath. Your breath is your lifeline, and meditating with your breath is simple, transformational, soothing, and can be practiced anywhere at any time. Start with 3 minutes a day and build from there. Make the commitment and start today. If you have any questions, reply and let me know.
With love,
Jodh
P.S. The picture above is what my mat looks like after meditation in the morning. We always start off toy free and by the time we finish - we have an assortment.