When I first began meditating, I was so focused on having a blank mind, that I would fail every time. I would open my eyes after a few minutes, frustrated because I could not shut off the constant stream of commentary in my brain. I would berate myself and feel unworthy, upset that I couldn’t meditate.
In my effort to stay with the practice, I turned to guided meditation; it gave me a point of focus, a voice to which I could pay attention, making it much easier to calm my mind chatter. Using guided meditation became a daily ritual, a way to achieve a deep sense of calmness.
Many people do guided meditation as a daily practice, with great results. The practice can help calm the mind, increase focus, and improve health. However, after several years of daily guided meditation practices, I couldn’t help feeling that there was more. I was slightly challenged when I saw someone seated in a lotus position, meditating without wearing earbuds, seemingly very focused. I was determined to find a way to shut down the chatter in my mind, without the crutch of guided meditation.
Everything began to fall into place after I read a book entitled “Mastering Alchemy” by Jim Self and Roxanne Burnett. Finding a great reservoir of peace within started with the lesson entitled “The Seven Living Words.” The lesson calls on you to experience the feelings associated with seven words; Happy, Certain, Senior, Gracious, Capable, Commanding, Present. After a few times listening to the guided meditation, I began doing it on my own, at my own pace. This meditation forces you to go inside, to “be” in your body. It is so much more than simple meditation.
This practice has caused me to be present. I am better able to keep focused attention. I walk through life with a sense of self; more connected to my body. Through this and other meditations provided in the course, I am building a platform of wellbeing. Life is good!
I now can meditate by focusing on my breath, using my focused attention to hone in on the feelings inside as my mind moves between these words, alone and in combinations. The Seven Living Words meditation builds a platform for a sense of self that can be carried throughout your day. If interested, you can access many free tools online @https://masteringalchemy.com/getting_started.
