I started meditating about three years ago, when I was looking for answers about who I was and what I wanted out of life. I had just quit my job and moved to Los Angeles in search of sunny happiness, only to find myself waking up depressed about three weeks into the journey.
I learned a valuable lesson in California: happiness cannot be created by external things -whether it’s a person, place, or thing. The only way to cultivate real, lasting happiness is to create it- internally.
This relization led me to try meditation. I was looking to get to know myself, quiet my anxious mind, conquer my irrational fear-based thoughts, and become a happier, more-balanced person.
Three years later, I can honestly say that meditation has had a MAJOR impact on my health, wellness, and happiness. (That, along with getting rid of my phone in the mornings.)
Not only do I feel like meditation has made me a happier, more grateful person; I also feel more at peace and calm. I no longer have such extreme reactions to emotional things (I mean, I still have my moments, but it is lightyears away from how I was in my 20s).
Meditation has taught me to notice and give space to my emotions, but know that they will pass and they are not what make me me.
So what can meditation do for you?
You know that feeling when you fly off the handle and feel completely out of control? Meditation will help you to pause in those situations and not be caught up in your emotions. It can also help you to conquer anxiety, worry, and fear, and the things that prevent you from being your best self. With a regular practice, you can cultivate self-love, acceptance, and empower yourself to go after your dreams.
So what kind of meditation should you try?
There are so many differenty types of meditation that you can get into! You can try guided meditation, silent meditation, body scan meditation, breath awareness meditation, transcendental meditation…there are so many choices.
When I first started in 2016, I used the Headspace app for 10 minutes a day to meditate in the morning. Over the last few years, I’ve moved into using guided mediations that I find on YouTube. (I love Deepak Chopra and Boho Beauitful.) I’ve found that I really enjoy meditations that are focused on cultivating one key feeling or action, like the productivity meditations below.
And just a side note-if all of meditation talk is new to you, give it a chance! I promise you, it is life-changing, if you let it in. 🙂
Meditations for Productivity & Focus
On days when I really want to clear my head and get a lot of meaningful work done, I listen to a productivity meditation. Here are four of my favorite free meditations for focus and productivity:
Are you a fan of meditation or do you have yet to try it? If you’ve tried it, what kind of meditation is your favorite? Leave a comment below and let me know!
xo, Lauren
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