Dr. Hemant Sharma (Photo: Childrens National Hospital via The Washington Post)

Physician Hemant Sharma has worked at Childrens National Hospital for 11 years and serves as its chief of allergy and immunology. The 44-year-old Howard County, Maryland, resident commutes daily to Washington, D.C., and rotates among four of the hospitals facilities, treating patients, teaching and mentoring younger physicians, overseeing administration, and conducting clinical research. Hes aware of how so many demands might affect his well-being and believes addressing burnout is a vital issue for the medical profession and others.

I think a number of professions now are facing this challenge, where the chronicity of our daily stress is preventing us from giving 100% of what we want to the populations that were serving.

To tackle these concerns, Sharma co-chairs the hospitals Provider Well-Being Initiative with Christiane Corriveau, a pediatric intensive-care physician; the committee has established regular meditation and mindfulness sessions at Childrens, among other measures. In addition, the hospital recently joined the Stanford Physician Wellness Academic Consortium and was awarded a grant from Ideas 42 to study work-life conflict in pediatric medical providers.

Sharma has a busy life beyond the hospital: He and his wife, Indira, a partner at a law firm, have three children, all younger than 10; hes the president of his local Hindu temple; and he volunteers for nonprofits in his community. Heres what he does to stay at his best. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)

Q: What do wellness and self-care mean to you?

A: Wellness for me means taking the time to invest in my own well-being holistically. Its not only about what were eating or how much were exercising, but its about taking time to take a breath and tap into that source of optimism and enthusiasm, then being able to offer it to others.

Q: You called provider burnout a silent epidemic in medicine. Whats the cause, and how do you combat this?

A: Studies show that over half of health-care providers in the United States are burned out. Its really worrisome, because these are the individuals who are responsible for healing. I think burnout is complex, but there are a number of responsibilities on clinicians plates that we didnt have previously. One example of that would be the electronic health record. Some have made the analogy that when were taking care of patients, its somewhat like texting while driving. Were trying to provide this quality experience and connect with patients, and were also spending time looking at the computer trying to document that visit.

Personally, my greatest wellness strategy has been meditation.

Q: How did meditation become part of your routine?

A: My wife and I realized how busy and how stressful our lives were becoming about six or seven years ago. We went to this three-day program from the Art of Living Foundation [a nonprofit known for its stress-relief and yoga programs] over a weekend and learned breathing and meditation techniques. It gives me this opportunity every morning to go deep within myself and recharge and tap into a source of vitality and clarity and optimism. I wanted to try to share it with whomever I could because I found that it really did transform my entire life.

Q: How was meditation introduced to Childrens?

A: I invited the founder of the Art of Living Foundation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, to Childrens, and he spoke to this notion of healing from within: What can we do to make sure that were taking care of ourselves to then be able to care for others?

After he visited, we started doing different things to try to bring meditation to the hospital, such as M&M (Meals and Meditation), which he had specifically advised. Once a month, instructors lead a 20- or 30-minute meditation, and afterward folks share lunch. Its been really beautiful to see how many people come back month after month. One of the most fulfilling aspects has been having people who work in different parts of the hospital come up to me and say, Its helping me find peace within myself.

Sometimes there might be fear of bringing meditation into environments that might not seem to be ready for it. I think physicians tend to be skeptical, and they want to see the evidence before they try something. But I found, at least here at Childrens National, theres been just a really welcoming and inviting environment for it.

Q: Do you meditate with your family?

A: Its become a family pastime. All three of our kids have taken meditation courses. Were always looking for things that will help improve out childrens happiness and sense of well-being. I can see that their creativity, their interest and their focus have improved and evolved over time. At night, we lead them in their practices, which are 10 or 15 minutes. Its a way to wind down before story time or before bed. Thats not to say that theyre always willing audiences; it takes a little cajoling to get them to start and to continue.

Q: Whats your morning routine?

A: I meditate in the morning, right when I get up a little before 6 a.m. I have a dedicated place where I go to meditate in the attic. I start the meditation and breathing and do that for about 30 minutes. After that, I start getting ready for the day. The kids wake up and we get them to school. I never miss breakfast. Im usually on the go because of my long commute; Im usually eating granola or breakfast bars and drinking a lot of water. I eat a banana every morning or some sort of fruit.

Q: Do you drink coffee or tea, or anything else?

A: I dont drink any coffee or tea or any caffeine. When I was in residency, and we would be taking calls overnight, sometimes I would drink a little coffee or tea or soda to try to get me through it. But shortly after that, I made a decision that I was going to try to stop caffeine and replace it with water. I was amazed that water actually works better for me, anyway.

Drinking water has become a very popular trend. Everyones walking around with their big water bottles; I look around at the residents now and they seem to always be toting their water bottle around. And I love that because I think what it means is that theyre fueling their body and their cells with this precious resource.

Q: Whats your nighttime routine like?

A: Thats where, as the parent of three kids, it gets challenging. We get home from work and were trying to get homework done and get bath time and their bedtimes finished. By the end of the day, oftentimes were exhausted. But the longer Ive been doing this meditation, my body has gotten into a rhythm where its ready for bed at the same time every night and ready to wake up at the same time every morning. It forces me to shut down, usually around 11 p.m. I dont set the alarm to wake up. Before I had meditation as the anchor of my routine, my sleep was more erratic and less deep.

Q: What about your fitness routine?

A: I do yoga and stretches every morning as part of my meditation practice. I definitely would love to start more of a regular exercise routine. I prioritize the breathing exercises and meditation and the yoga over other exercise because thats been so impactful for me.

Q: How do you fuel yourself throughout the day?

A: Im not a vegetarian, but I eat a lot of vegetarian foods. I try to make sure that whatever Im eating isnt too heavy, and I like having snack bars or nuts. Folks on my team know that Im always the one asking them to eat lunch. No matter how busy we get, its important to take care of ourselves. I focus less on the specifics of what I eat; the timing is the thing that I think is most consistent for me. I tend to eat lunch at the same time every day and dinner around the same time every day. I tend to not eat too much late at night.

Q: How do you relax?

A: The kids keep us laughing. As a pediatrician, I have the immense blessing of having that experience multiple times every day. Their silliness and innocence and spontaneity helps me unwind. Laughter is one of the most powerful tools to help us relax and chill out.

Q: How do you deal with particularly wrenching cases?

A: One of the most important mechanisms to deal with that is talking about it. The provider well-being committee is developing a peer support program. The notion is that when colleagues are dealing with patients who may not be doing well or whose care is particularly emotionally grueling, that we have a mechanism to support each other and to deeply connect with each other. Not feeling alone is really important in terms of our own healing.

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This physician, an Indian-American, uses meditation in the ght against burnout - newsindiatimes.com

Meditation is everywhere! Unless youve been living under a rock, youll have noticed that talk of meditation, mindfulness, awareness, and self-knowledge has rocketed in recent years. Today youll find multiple meditation classes, in a variety of different styles, in every town and city across the country. Theres certainly no lack of choice for those looking to explore the mysteries of mindfulness.

Meditation itself was born from very practical roots. For serious practitioners, it is a tool, not a fashion statement. Indeed, when the yoga pants, mala beads, and cultural packaging are stripped away, meditation is little more than a psychological exercise, a means of stilling the mind through focus and repetition; consider it push-ups for the muscles of the mind.

The surge in interest in the topic has led to meditation being investigated through the objective lens of science. Fortunately, unlike many mystic fads born from the cultural revolution of the 1960s, meditation holds up to investigation. Indeed, there is a growing body of scientific evidence to support the physical and psychological benefits of regular meditative training.

From fine-tuning your bedroom prowess to turbocharging your confidence and charisma, meditation, used properly, can be an ancient tool repurposed to fit the needs of an Iconic man.

If you thought meditation was a purely spiritual practice, think again!

1 - A Calm Man is a Confident Man

As with public speaking, day-to-day confidence takes time and practice.

One of the biggest hurdles towards developing confidence is the chatter of the mind, aka overthinking, those critical voices in your mind narrating just how badly youre doing.

Meditation is a fantastic tool for quieting the internal critic. Indeed, this is one of the primary aims of meditation, stilling what the Buddhists call the monkey mind.

With regular practice, meditation will instill in you a calm and relaxed demeanour, youll find yourself less ruffled in day-to-day situations. Of course, this will transfer into all areas of your life, including your relationships.

A man that exhibits a calm demeanour is a far more attractive prospect than his jittery nervous competition!

2 - Mind Control equals Body Control

The body and mind are deeply interconnected, but we often mistakenly think of our thoughts as something separate from our bodiessoftware versus hardware. However, just as psychological worry can raise your blood pressure, the nature and quality of almost all thinking can have a profound impact on your physical performance and well being.

Sex is no different. Its no coincidence that in our stressed and hectic world, the pharmaceutical industry is booming. Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a growing problem and its one that the chemists are happy to sell you a pricey blue pilled cure. However, ED and many other sexual issues often stem from psychological causes, more often than not the primary issue is stress.

Meditation is a fantastic tool for reducing stress. As a result, those who occasionally experience sexual performance issues can see a rapid improvement.

Even for men not afflicted with such issues, the additional understanding of oneself that meditation brings can offer improvements in your stamina, your sexual empathy, and many other subtle areas of your love life.

3 - Focus is key

Men who can focus can appear almost supernatural.

One of the most common complaints women cite regarding the men in their lives is their inability to notice details.

Youll stand out from the crowd if you notice when shes got a new haircut, that she likes it when you do a certain thing or touch her in a particular place, when shes at the sexual stage of her cycle, or that shes been dropping subtle hints about something she wants to try. Simply by being aware of her changing emotional states, youll instantly be a cut above the rest.

Meditation trains the mind to focus, and as such, you will develop a more keen and discerning eye. The common term for this is mindfulness, but in practical terms this simply equates to thoughtful observance, or put simply, noticing what is going on around you. In short, regular training in meditation will make you more present in the world and this will allow you to be more present with her.

4 - Lucid Dreaming

Long term meditation is also a portal to another fascinating state of mind, namely lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming is, essentially, natures virtual reality. In a lucid dream, one can dream whatever one wishes, and that includes all kinds of sexual fantasies and experimentation.

While meditation isnt an instant or direct route to lucid dreaming, it is a vital component in its development.

When one masters both lucid dreaming and meditation, it opens up a world of consequence-free sexual exploration. If youre looking to investigate your own fantasies and sexuality in-depth, then lucid dreaming is a safe and accessible tool to do so. Of course, being a form of natural virtual reality, lucid dreaming offers much more than just this and can be used to explore your imagination in all manner of ways.

Needless to say, when you feel more confident in your private sexual needs and identity, this will swiftly translate to an improvement in your relationships.

5 - Slow things down

The modern world is always in such a rush. This fast-paced approach to living has also influenced our love lives. Apps such as Tinder are a prime example of love at lightning speed, creating an almost consumerist attitude towards our love lives.

How we meet, how we date, how we approach intimacy, even how we end relationships, have all taken on a rushed and hectic tone.

Meditation helps us to slow down, to become more in-tune with the natural rhythms of love and sexuality. While this might all sound a little hippy it is based on hard facts and science and it has real-world, practical values.

Learning to approach sex and love in a more relaxed manner will help you stand out from the crowd, it will also allow you to form real bonds rather than being caught in a world of disposable one-night-stands.

An improvement in your love life is only one of a myriad of ways in which meditation can be beneficial.

So, if youve been harbouring a little scepticism and avoiding meditation due to out-dated stereotypes or stigmas, I highly recommend giving it a try.

For as little as an investment of ten-minutes of your time each day, youll soon start to see tangible improvements in many areas of your life.

If nothing else, itll give you some time to unwind and become familiar with the power and intricacy of your own mind. Remember, a healthy love life first starts with a healthy relationship with your own self.

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Meditation - 5 fascinating ways that meditation can improve your love life - IconicMan Magazine

Are you having a stressful day? Do you need to put everything on pause for a minute to regroup and refocus? I have just the right thing for you: a delightful and relaxing video of Italian landscapes punctuated by the sights and sounds of an MV Agusta motorcycle. This will be the best two minutes of your day. Breathe in, breathe out, press play.

MV Agusta created a true ode to its country in a video it released a few weeks ago. The campaign titled Nostro bel paese, Motosinfonia dautunno (Our beautiful country, A Falls motor-symphony) showcases images of the spectacular Dolomites mountainscape set to the sound of a true Italian classic, Nessun Dorma by Puccini.

The video features CIV Supersport Championship racer Davide Stirpe in the saddle of what looks like the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro, if the golden fork and frame, star-spoke wheels, and the 212 horsepower mentioned in the videos description are any indications. The Serie Oro was a limited-run, special edition version of the model, released by MV Agusta earlier in 2019 that sold out in only a few days.

The drone shots of the mountains are breathtaking and the powerful aria only enhances the brief experience. The purring sound of the Brutales 998cc inline-four reverberating off the rocky cliffs and stone walls occasionally compliments the relaxing ensemble. The gorgeous bike, the thrilling engine note, the picturesque Italian scenery, the classical music Seriously, if this isnt some sort of gearhead meditation, Im not sure what it is.

It might only be a promotional video but if more ads were as poetic as this one, we probably wouldnt be as annoyed with how many we have to go through before resuming our favorite TV or YouTube video.

I dont know for you but I feel rested and reinvigorated after watching this. Namaste.

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This Is Your 2-Minute Meditation To The Sound Of The MV Agusta Brutale - RideApart

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Global Meditation Cushion Market by Trends, Key Players, Growth Factors and Forecast 2019 to 2025 - Business Broker

LEAD Lotus Vision Healing and Meditation Center will join Lotus Up and be in the lower level of the building for alternate methods of healing.

Jamie Gilcrease Heupel, the leader of this project and owner of Lotus Up, is also an entrepreneur coach and will host sessions in the space for that as well.

Its all different modalities of healing with the understanding that humans can literally heal themselves with the right tools, Heupel said.

Methods of healing will include yoga, hypnosis, meditation, and any and other ways that healing teachers can come up with, such as rage yoga.

Since the space is big and open, it has also been used to host baby showers, business plan training, and anything that people need to utilize the open area for.

Both Lotus Up and Lotus Vision Healing and Meditation are under the LLC of Lotus Holding. So in one spot, at 95 E. Main St., you can get coffee, food, and meditate.

We hit the mind, body, and spirit, said Heupel.

Heupel hopes to have a full schedule of events and activities by Jan. 1.

Were hoping to have a monthly schedule out, very similar to the Hot Room in Spearfish. They have set schedules right now. We have a yoga instructor that will be there every Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 (p.m.), and we will hopefully fill those slots with different healing instructors, Heupel said.

Dynamic meditation will be held at the center at 7 a.m. every Sunday. Another form of meditation will include layer meditation, which focuses on healing through music.

One of the ways were doing that is myself and the hypnosis will be doing a combination of a make and take with essential oil and then going in and teaching people how to self-hypnotize so they can maybe battle some of the things that they have with anxiety or depression, Heupel said. Its really outside of the box.

As the owner of Lotus Up, Heupel said she has passed on the business to be in the hands of a couple managers.

Hopefully at some point, well be able to work with the different teachers. Its almost as if its a makerspace, but for healers, Heupel said. So people that might not have a space to go to, I have 1,800 square feet of a beautiful property and I wanted it being used by people that are helping people. So I just created space for that and were looking for teachers. Were looking for healers.

Vision Board Classes will be at 10 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month at Lotus Up.

For more information, visit lotusvisioncoaching.com.

To read all of today's stories, Click here or call 642-2761 to subscribe to our e-edition or home delivery.

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Lotus Vision Healing and Meditation Center to join Lotus Up - Black Hills Pioneer

People think an average of 80,000 thoughts per day, 80 percent of which are negative. As brilliant as the human mind can be, its natural to wish that we all had a pre-programmed, do not disturb feature for the times when we just wanted some peace and quiet. Since none of us are blessed with such an ability, its important to learn not just how to clear your mind but to calm it. And Ellie Burrows Gluck, co-founder and CEO of New York Citys MNDFL meditation studio, says that she has four tools in her toolkit for doing just that.

Meditation is without question my number one go-to for de-exciting the mind, but I find there are a couple of other things that also be effective for me personally, says Gluck, whos certified in Vedic tradition of meditation. I love a follow-along dance class at Body By Simone where I have to use my mind to learn the steps. That kind of direct focus paired with the endorphin release is a pretty powerful combo for quieting my mind and releasing stress. Moving to the beat has also been linked with overall better cognitive health, so why not crank Lizzo and bust a move?

When shes not dancing her way to a more accommodating mind, Gluck says that the simple act of touch can help refresh her brain. Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed, hugging my husband and talking to him is very soothing. Hes a safe haven, I find him to be deeply comforting and helpful when my mind is racing, she says. So if you find yourself racing to keep up with the speed of your thoughts, hit pause and hug someone you love. Dare you.

Meditation changes how we relate to our thoughts, it doesnt eliminate them entirely. Ellie Burrow Gluck, co-founder and CEO of MNDFL

Last, but certainly not least, Gluck says she makes a point of talking to her therapist on a regular basis. I am lucky enough to be able to attend therapy regularly which allows me to meet my mind in a really vulnerable and constructive way, the meditation teacher says.

Overall, Gluck stresses the point that shes trying to befriend, not antagonize, her mind. We cannot press the snooze button the firing of our own brain cellson or off the meditation cushion.

We will never have control over our thoughts the way we fantasize we might. So when we practice on the cushion and become aware that we are no longer focused on our breath or mantra and our mind has wandered to our to-do list, what were going to eat for dinner, or the fight we had with a partner, we have an option to gently, lovingly, and without judgment return to the object of our meditation, she says. Meditation changes how we relate to our thoughts, it doesnt eliminate them entirely.

Rather than yelling at all the uninvited guests upstairs to GTFO, try bringing them into your inner-circlewhether that means dancing, hugging it out, or confiding in a listening ear.

Dance with your thoughts:

Try therapeutic cooking if you cant sit still for meditation. And if youre having trouble sleep, try slow lit.

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Im a meditation expertheres how I befriended my mind - Well+Good

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 NRSV

The writer of Proverbs illustrates how important hope is for every person. When hope is deferred, our hearts become sick and our spirits become low.

Lee Strobel explains four distinct categories of hope. The first is wishful thinking. When we blow out the candles on a birthday cake, we make a wish for things we desire in the coming year. In the moment at hand, we project fanciful hopes of deep desires. But this is not a hope that really brings life.

A second category of hope is blind optimism. Blind optimism often ignores the problems present in our lives. Having a positive attitude is an asset, but we must also face the struggles of life. In the end, while an amount of blind optimism is admirable it does not allow us to accurately face all of reality.

A third category of hope Strobel notes is hopeful dreams. Hopeful dreams are goals we set out to achieve. When I tell myself, I am going to lose those extra pounds and develop a healthier lifestyle. this is an example of a hopeful dream. However, my earnest dreaming does not guarantee that which we dream for will become a reality.

While each of these expressions of hope has its place, biblical hope encompasses far more than any of these three. I Peter 1:3-4 (NRSV) announces: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, This is hope that is the tree of life the writer of Proverbs envisions.

Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent with the theme of hope. Advent the season of preparing for the coming of Christ at Christmas. When my wife and I were expecting the birth of our children, we carefully prepared for these blessed events. In that spirit advent invites us to prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ.

Biblical hope assures us that life makes sense. The promise is that God will take the tattered pieces of our complicated lives and weave a tapestry. Biblical hope assures us that frayed, scattered puzzle pieces of our existence make a beautiful picture when all placed together. This hope assures us that our lives have purpose and meaning.

Biblical hope is beyond ourselves. This hope is the confident expectation that God is in the process of keeping promises to us. Promises are made with words. With each word we offer a part of ourselves. God has been proven trustworthy and faithful in keeping promises. Where hopelessness abounds, it is in Gods nature to save because it is in Gods nature to love. God seeks the lost, heals the wounded, forgives the offender, and gives hope to those who are in despair. It is what God does. With God as our hope, what lies ahead will truly be an adventure.

Continued here:

Meditation: Be confident that God is in the process of keeping promises to us - Hickory Daily Record

The great Frederick Beuchner wrote a few years ago that most religious words have lost almost all vitality. Through overuse and abuse, terms like church and heaven and sin cause the eyes to glaze and the attention to wander.

Case in point: Repentance. Do you picture some half-crazed pulpiteer doing his best to scare the (pardon me) hell out of you?

Its a shame, since repentance is a perfectly robust word for a perfectly necessary activity.

Our easiest mistake comes quite naturally. Everybody else needs to get on board with me, so the world can be a much happier place. I wish all these people would get out of my way I thought one busy morning, until another rude thought crowded its way in. Did it ever occur to you that you might be in their way?

Lifelong guilt trips run a close second, perhaps?

Maybe the worst misstep of all comes when you begin to confuse embarrassment at getting caught with contrition and forgiveness with a blank check that you can spend anyway you choose. Call it the entitled spirit. Should a pastor guilty of sexually manipulating and abusing parishioners ever have charge of a church again?

I dont pretend to be an ethics expert, but I can tell you one thing from first-hand experience.

Sin is the heart curved in on itself. One teeny dose of the peril and plague of the human condition would literally drive you bonkers, save for the throbbing heart of love at the center of the cosmos. Honest-to-goodness repentance inspires you to say thank you for your morning oats, an extra flannel shirt in your closet and at least a few brains in your brain. Makes you grateful just to be alive. George Bailey found it out. So did Ebenezer Scrooge, Lieutenant Dan, and Tibbs and Gillespie. So does everyone who repents. Get a new heart ... a new spirit (Ezekiel 18:31).

The Rev. Eugene Stockstill is pastor of Ebenezer United Methodist Church and Myrtle United Methodist Church in Union County.

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MEDITATION: It's good to know we can change - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

(HOODLINE) Want to know where to go for meditation in Denver? Here are the top-rated meditation centers in the city, based on data from Yelp, Facebook andClassPass, a monthly fitness membership that provides access to thousands of different studios, gyms and wellness offerings. Yoga of the Mind

8 E. First Ave., Speer

Yoga of the Mind is Denvers favorite meditation center by the numbers, with five stars out of 23 reviews onClassPassand 2,477 fans onFacebook.

Yoga of the Minds mission is to expand peace and self-awareness in individuals and in the world, explains the business ClassPass profile. Their classroom is an intimate setting that accommodates 15 students.

3401 W. 29th Ave., West Highland

Also among Denvers favorites is Kundalini Yoga, with 4.7 stars out of 152 reviews onClassPass, five stars out of one review onYelpand 1,317 fans onFacebook. Its the top meditation outlet in the entire Denver metro area, according to ClassPass rankings.

Kundalini Yoga, as taught by Yogi Bhajan, is considered the most comprehensive of yoga traditions, combining meditation, mantra, physical exercises and breathing techniques, states the business ClassPass profile. Kundalini Yoga is also known as the yoga of awareness; its focus is on self-awareness and delivering an experience of your highest consciousness.

2916 Irving St., West Highland

With five stars out of 10 reviews onClassPass, five stars out of one review onYelpand 260 fans onFacebook, Reiki with Yarra has garnered plenty of local fans.

According to the business ClassPass profile, Reiki is energy-healing, and works on your physical, emotional, energetic and spiritual bodies to balance and restore your energy. Sessions are extremely relaxing, and heal gently and powerfully at the same time.

Article provided by Hoodline.

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Peace Out At These Denver Meditation Centers - CBS Denver

with Jenna Grace

I started meditating when I lived out West. A far way away from where I grew up in the Midwest. I was searching for something. As we all do in our 20s. But I had been struggling with my mental health for as long as I could remember. I wasnt okay. And I didnt know how to get better. I was completely lost. Both in my life and in myself. And meditation was the first thing that helped me find my way.

Meditation found me. I was walking home from a nearby flea market and someone handed me a booklet on yoga. Always intrigued by yoga but never having been exposed to it (this was in 2005; before yoga was everywhere), I accepted the booklet, made a donation and headed home curious.

Once home, as I began thumbing through the pages, I was a bit discouraged not to find pictures of the yoga poses Id imagined. Instead, the booklet focused on breathing. On postures when sitting. On finding stillness. I was looking for any kind of guidance, so I took this as a sign that I should start meditating. And so my meditation practice began.

I made myself meditate every day. And considering I knew no one in the latest town I was in, I had a lot of time to practice. And I needed to practice. Its amazing how hard it is to just sit. To sit in stillness and to focus. On your breath. On your thoughts. On your feelings. Perhaps thats why we dont do it as much as we should. For when you focus on your thoughts and feelings, you have to be ready to deal with what you think and feel. But I began to notice that meditation was slowing things down for me, helping me find a stillness inside myself that I desperately needed to find. Helping me feel okay.

Id been anxious and depressed and dealing with suicidal thoughts for over a decade at this point in my life, and I was searching to figure out why. Meditation gave me my first glimpse inside myself. A glimpse that brought me joy and made me feel peace. A peace I had never known; one that I needed to feel. It gave me body awareness. Helped me focus my thoughts. And connected me to my feelings. To my soul.

Now, over a decade later, my practice looks much different than when I started. I find beauty in this as thats how it should be things should evolve, as life does. Because while we all need to practice finding stillness, well go nowhere if we dont move.

So if you find yourself beginning your meditation practice, here are some basic steps to help you get started:

I wish you light and love as you begin your practice. May you find peace and joy in yourself. Namaste.

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Jenna Grace is a neurodivergent writer and educator with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) diagnoses. She writes and speaks about topics including neurodiversity and SPD in order to help others and to explore new meaning. Visit her website or Twitter, @jennagracewrite.

APA Reference Grace, J. (2019). Mental Health, Spirituality and Self-care: 8 Basic Steps to Beginning Your Meditation Practice. Psych Central. Retrieved on November 30, 2019, from https://blogs.psychcentral.com/neurodivergent/2019/11/mental-health-spirituality-and-self-care-8-basic-steps-to-beginning-your-meditation-practice/

Last updated: 29 Nov 2019 Statement of review: Psych Central does not review the content that appears in our blog network (blogs.psychcentral.com) prior to publication. All opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the author alone, and do not reflect the views of the editorial staff or management of Psych Central. Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

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Mental Health, Spirituality and Self-care: 8 Basic Steps to Beginning Your Meditation Practice - PsychCentral.com