MEDITATION
I struggled with quieting my mind. To have the mental clarity to be aware of my thoughts, emotions and experiences on a moment-to-moment basis, and to have control over them, seemed impossible.
Thoughts raced through my brain like cars on a highway and I felt like it would never work for me. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t clear my mind the way I thought I should. It left me feeling frustrated and agitated - the exact opposite of what I should have experienced.
Once the cancer metastasized from my hand to my lungs, I felt like I had nowhere to turn. My life was upside and I had lost all control. Desperate for anything that might save me or at least help manage the stress I was facing, I decided to give it another try.
I figured this ancient eastern tradition may be worth revisiting. If the benefits were true, that achieving a state of mind that was aware and in control, and that could help reduce stress and improve my physical health, then I was more than willing to try again. I had to do something to fix myself.
Guided meditations with my psychotherapist helped set the stage for the mind work I was about to develop. I realized that for me, it didn’t have to be about clearing my mind completely, it just had to be focused and controlled in a positive way.
Armed with healing stones and a Tibetan singing bowl, I set to work to master my mind. First by focusing on my breath, and then by creating a system that directed my thoughts at healing from the inside out.
By developing a routine, with a process that had steps to focus on, my mind was no longer wandering randomly. I trained it to focus on healing my body.
MEDITATION, EXPLAINED
It is the practice of training in awareness, teaching yourself to observe your environment, thoughts, and feelings without judgment. It allows you to be mindful or present so you are fully engaged in what you're doing in the moment.
MEDITATION IS A SELF-CARE MUST
Meditation is one activity that nourishes your physical, emotional, and psychological aspects. It's also easy to do. All you need is a few minutes of peace and quiet. You don't need to spend any money to begin meditating.
HERE'S HOW TO START
Find a quiet place to sit or lie calmly and comfortably. Set a timer for 5 to 10 minutes.
Be mindful of your breath and take notice of your body and surroundings. Try to keep your mind from wandering.
If your mind does wander, gently refocus on yourself and your surroundings.
MAKE IT A HABIT
Meditating first thing in the morning or before bed can help make it a habit. Commit to scheduling time for meditation every day. Put it in your calendar!
"Meditation is a vital way to purify and quiet the mind, thus rejuvenating the body."
-Deepak Chopra, author and alternative-medicine advocate
GET MEDITATING!
If you are interested in a free visualization/meditation specific to cancer that I created and used to heal, check out the free audio download available on this website.
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