“Take time to be silent, to meditate, to quiet the internal dialogue. In moments of silence, realize that you are reconnecting to your source of pure awareness. Pay attention to your inner life so that you can be guided by intuition rather than externally imposed interpretations of what is or isn’t good for you.” Deepak Chopra
The first faint beams of light intermittently peak around the sides of the gently swaying curtain on the window as the morning breeze brings it to life. The light is almost unnoticeable, but enough to peel my eyelids up. An aromatic waft of coffee lifts my head and the tapping of a chocolate lab tail against the wall closest to the side of the bead in which I sleep on mindlessly brings my feet to the floor. My morning is filled with routine sounds, but my mind is silent.
I carry that quiet to the beach with coffee in hand and dog in the lead. The sun hasn’t quite risen over the mountains to the east and the sand is cool and void of distractions. My hands wrap around the warm mermaid mug and my dog rolls ritualistically in the sand. This is our morning meditation. It’s before the sun kisses the back of my head that my mind is most present, peaceful, and passive. This is the time of the day when I feel deeply, but let thoughts flow through me without pause. I sit with my toes buried in the sand for the duration of a cup of coffee and practice nothingness.
Sunrise coffee on the beach, long walks by the sea or in the forest, and surfing are all times when I meditate. Meditation isn’t restricted to sitting in lotus position with your eyes closed and body completely still for a period of time. Meditation is a personal practice that can be done in any way that suites you. The benefits of meditating are vast. There are physical, mental, and spiritual benefits that come from incorporating some form of meditation into your daily life.
Here are just a few examples of the benefits of regular meditation:
- Gain clarity
- Improve concentration
- Decrease stress and anxiety
- Rejuvenate the mind and body
- Improve the immune system
- Lower blood pressure
- Increase serotonin levels, which increases happiness
- Decrease physical tension and pain
- Increase energy
- Help bring about personal transformation
- Gain a deeper understanding of yourself
- Feel more connected to the natural world
Making time to quiet your mind is a gift that will keep giving for as long as you allow yourself that opportunity. Start your practice today, even if for just a few minutes. Be playful and explore different settings, actions, and times of the day to depart from your internal dialogue and just be in complete mental nothingness. Find your silence and reap the benefits of this divine practice.