The Stillness Within

“The goal of meditation isn’t to control your thoughts;

it’s to stop letting them control you.”

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It’s been a few weeks since my last post and live broadcast.  I’ve spent the last month on the road moving around quite a bit.  Since our last engagement I’ve moved out of Hoi An in Vietnam and visited the Gili Islands and Lombok in Indonesia; then returned to Vietnam to explore Hanoi, beautiful Halong Bay and the breath-taking Sapa.  Now, I’m in Siem Reap, Cambodia where I am settling for the next month and giving myself some time to slow down and gain a little balance.

This past month of constant movement has made it difficult for me to maintain my routines, and as a result I have missed or been inconsistent with a number of my daily practices.  Suddenly being out of routine has really highlighted for me that value of having these practices in my life.  Particularly my daily meditation.  Having not been strict with finding time to be still every day, I have noted how my mind is becoming busier, preoccupied with things that I can’t control.  I’m mildly irritable and impatient.  The answers to important decisions are harder to come by.  My engagement with people around me isn’t as deep as it would normally be.  All this because I’m missing as simple 20-minute daily practice. A simple practice with powerful results.

Watch Episode 18 of The Flying Phoenix’s Weekly Facebook Live Broadcast and find out about some of the specific steps I took.  (Due to technical issues at the time of broadcast, some of the audio isn’t clear.)

Top points from the broadcast

What is meditation?

• In its purest form it is eliminating the mind of any distraction, by quieting the mind and quieting the world around you and then focussing in on one thing.

How does meditation benefit you?

• Meditation won’t help you make more money, get a promotion, improve relationships etc. but, it will help you to reduce stress; be kind to yourself; and in turn become a better version of yourself; which indirectly may then lead to things like improved relationships, career progression etc.
• Meditation will have physiological impacts like improving the immune system, lowering blood pressure, and of course any of the stress-related ailments.

How to get started if you’ve never meditated before?

• Don’t set yourself up for failure. You don’t have to follow the image of meditation that is cultivated by popular culture.  Meditation doesn’t necessarily need to be you sitting in white clothing sitting cross-legged, chanting “ohm” with incense and serene music for twenty minutes.  If you are comfortable with that great, but it could simply be you finding quiet wherever you are at for whatever time you have available, even if its only five minutes.
• What’s most important is to be kind to yourself, gentle with yourself and remember why you are meditating. It is a personal journey with yourself and no-one else.
• Start your meditation by doing the following:
  • Find a quiet space
  • Eliminate distractions
  • Sit in a comfortable position
  • Make sure that you are grounded; i.e. making sure that your body is touching / connected to the ground
  • Decide what you will be focussing on for the duration of the meditation
  • Don’t force it; it needs to feel good to you

What are your thoughts?

I would love to hear from you.  What has your experience been with this topic?  Do you have some tips or strategies in addition to the one’s mentioned above?  Maybe you have a burning question?  Perhaps you have the solution to someone else’s question.

The best growth and learning comes from engagement and sharing, please comment below and share your thoughts, questions and personal experiences.