Post 13 - Meditation Changed My Life

Happy New Year, my friends!

I made sure to start my New Year's morning with 20 minutes of meditation because I wanted to set the tone for the year. In 2026, I'd like to start off each month with a post about a tool or resource that helps me manage my anxiety. I've discussed some tools in previous posts, but I don't think I've highlighted how much meditation has helped me through the years. It is one of the single most helpful things that I do in order to calm my nerves and get centered. I stop what I'm doing, sit comfortably, clear my mind, and breathe. This act always helps me to quickly get grounded, and it helps me to find the energy, strength, and peace I need to fuel my day. Meditation is one of the first things that I do when I wake up, and if I'm experiencing a challenging day or week, it's often because I'm not allowing myself the time to sit quietly and breathe. My meditation practice has a major impact on the calm I'm able to bring into each day.

I've been meditating off and on most of my life, and I've been around a while. This means I was meditating before being present and in the moment was a thing, before there were so many tools and resources, and definitely before there were apps to help guide you. Meditating for me started out with me sitting cross-legged on the floor chanting "ohm," which worked for me then and still works just fine. All I knew in those early years was that it made me feel better. Today, there are a plethora of resources and tools that can help people ease into multiple forms of meditation. I stumbled into it as a young person because I realized that there was something very restorative to my soul about sitting calmly in the quiet and allowing my racing thoughts to fade. I know that it can seem intimidating to some but starting out with just a few minutes each day and building from there can be life changing.

What I love most about a meditation practice is that, depending on how much you want to invest financially or not, it can be totally free! In addition, the amount of time needed can be minimal. The overall investment can be as little or as much as you desire, and starting can literally be as easy as finding a comfortable place to sit, closing one's eyes, or not, and breathing. What I have learned is that thoughts come and go, and you acknowledge them and then go back to focusing on your breathing or counting your breaths. It gets easier over time. Believe me, if I can quiet this busy mind of mine, anyone can.

If you're curious about learning more about meditation, there are articles on the internet, YouTube videos, classes, retreats, apps like Headspace and CALM, and much, much more. There are far too many resources and tools for me to mention here, and I'm definitely not an expert, but I can speak to what has worked for me. Headspace had a series of videos during the pandemic on Netflix, which were great introductions to meditation. Certain health plans have included a complimentary subscription to specific meditation apps for their members, acknowledging that meditation can be a valuable resource for supporting mental health. I highly recommend checking with your plan.

For me personally, I have to say I am totally and completely in love with the CALM app. It has brought my meditation practice to a whole new level. It's the meditation tool that I use the most. I'm not getting paid to say this; it's my experience, and I do not work for CALM, although it would be a dream job for me. They offer so many different tools and ways to calm down; it's my go-to app for sure. Most mornings, I begin my day by listening to the Daily Calm and/or Daily Trip, which are 10-minute meditation sessions. I also enjoy their calming music collection, which helps me relax throughout the day. I've taken walks and listened to walking meditations. When I'm struggling to sleep, I listen to sleep stories, frequency sounds, or bilateral stimulation to help me relax and rest. Who would have thought that bedtime stories would become popular among adults? Brilliant! There's Daily Move for movement, Daily Jay for wisdom, and a variety of other ways to help bring calm into your life. You can have it all in one app or find other ways to incorporate the bits and pieces that work for you. I've also looked up and listened to soothing meditations on YouTube.

At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is what works for each individual. Meditation can be a wonderful tool that doesn't require a lot to get started. It's a simple way to stop, drop, and breathe your way into a calmer state. The more you do it, and the more consistent you are with it, you literally feel your whole body and mind shift. Numerous studies highlight the advantages of practicing meditation. It may seem simplistic, but it's powerful.

As we start off another year together, consider exploring ways to invite more calm into your life. Meditation always does that for me, no matter how hectic things may feel. It's the one activity I can consistently rely on to immediately reduce my anxiety levels.

Wishing you love, light, and a life filled with Authenticit-E.