I love the season of summer with longer, warmer days, nature in the full swing of life, and watching my flowers grow. But, I have observed my energy getting depleted from going all the time and trying to fit it all in. This year, more than ever, my meditation practice has helped me start the day off in a more grounded state of mind. It’s helped me to keep in perspective the to dos that are realistic in a day. I can more easily let go of outcomes more readily to just go with the flow.  When I’ve had moments of overwhelm, taking time to just practice single-minded focus shifts my mind state. This practice reminds my mind to be in a more simple state, focusing on one thing and letting the rest go.

STAND ALONE PRACTICE HELPS YOU SHOW UP IN DAILY LIFE

My sadhana (spiritual daily practice) has helped me to go from just a morning practice to expanding the practice throughout the day. This is where the really magic happens.

I’ve had days in a row where staying focused and doing one thing at a time is essential to completing all tasks. My mind has moments of ‘freak outs’ where it’s overwhelmed by all the details. By coming back to single-minded focus, it allows my mind to come back to the present and focus on the now. In that space I can let go of the rest of the ‘to dos’ until it’s time to transition to the next task. It’s helped to keep the anxiety at bay more and allowed me to enjoy where I’m at. All this practice in daily life, though, starts with being on the mat/cushion in the morning. With starting the day off with my focus inward, it then radiates out into daily living.

A PROCESS THAT TAKES TIME

My meditation practice of single-minded focus has been a process and will continue to be.  It’s been a process of committing and re-committing.  There are ups and downs with it. Some days the excuses of why not to do my morning practice are louder.  Excuses like being too tried or “it’ll happen later,” or being on vacation and things getting in the way, or “I’m too sick, it’s okay if I skip a day,” etc. In the past, I would let those excuses win out.  But, I’m a person that will follow through if I commit to someone else. So, when I committed to a daily practice in front of my teacher, it was amazing how all those excuses just lost their power.  I’ve practiced Dharana, or single-minded focus daily since.  What helps you to let go excuses?

I have been grateful for this commitment.  It has helped me ground back during the chaos of life and summer.  A big tip is this: Find your minimum practice. 

MINIMUM PRACTICE

I know it’s easy to get attached to the idea of what a practice is or ‘should’ look like, which can keep us from doing it every day.  Ideally, my practice is about two hours. This includes asana (poses), pranayama (breathing techniques) and dharana (single-minded focus).  Life does get in the way sometimes! And, it’s better to do a minimum practice rather than no practice at all because it does add up.  My minimum practice at this point is 20 minutes of meditation or dharana.  There are no excuses I can come up with to not find 20 minutes in my day.  And when I start…sometimes it turns into a longer practice. Most of us actually have more time than we think we do.

20 minutes doesn’t have to be your daily practice. Our roles in our days are different. You need to be honest with yourself about what you can commit to doing no matter what. Many women I work with find 5-10 minutes realistic.

By having a minimum sadhana practice and following through with it supports my commitments in daily life.  It helps me to be aware of the excuses that creep up in my day and put them in their place, one at a time.

Find that minimum practice…YOU DESERVE IT!  Yes, you ARE that important.