#RealHappiness Meditation Challenge 2019 - Day 4 and 5

Day 4

So I didn't write a blog post for day 4. It was a really really long day. Like a 16 hour day. I barely had enough energy to eat. But I did meditate! Day 4 was using counting as part of the meditation. It was different for me because I use counting, but I count as I breath in and count as I breath out for a variety of reasons. This method had you note the word "in" on the in breath and count the number as the out breath. It went like "in, one, in, two, in, three, in, four, in, five," etc. This was very different for me. I think it helped me focus because it wasn't familiar. I can't say it was as comfortable as the other methods so far, but hey, everything isn't for everyone. 

I did enjoy the sentiments in Needlesandherbs post counting and verbal noting. I appreciated SueB's point in #RealHappinessChallenge - Day 4 - numbers that because something doesn't do it for you one time, trying something else and maybe coming back might have a different result. Johnnie_the_poet's honesty in his post Daily Practice Day Four was a refreshing reminder that we are yet still human. My favorite of the day was Victoria Liebertore Sneaking a Prayer.

Day 5

To be honest, I had to do this meditation twice. I did it earlier in the day after a 90 minute yoga practice and I honestly cannot recall what the heck happened! I don't remember falling asleep or waking up. Just that 12 minutes had passed and I needed to clean up my yoga mat and accessories. 

On my second time around it took me several minutes to get settled into a comfortable seated position. I think I fell asleep 2 or 3 or 4 times during a total of 20 minutes. I found the guided portion of the meditation to be very very distracting. Once the guided portion was done I felt more settled into the meditation. I see colors and shapes during meditation generally and today was no exception. I appreciated the transcript the most today. Loving kindness as a practice has been life changing for me. It's not difficult to show loving kindness to myself, but to implement the practice for others has made me more humble. 

Today I was reminded that I can show loving kindness to myself for my own commitments in Day 5 of 28: Loving Kindness by Edith. I enjoyed Dariene's account of the start of her day with the meditation challenge in Day 5 - kindness. Cher's post Day 5 and Buddhist principals resonated with me deeply. Recently I've been pondering and ruminating on the similarities in various practices and the resistance by some to very helpful practices simply due to the language. This was an opportunity to give thanks for variety. Denise E shared Magic Moments - in Schools which provided a great opening to see meditation from several different perspectives. 

If you would like to join the challenge, click here. 

If you would like to purchase the book that this challenge is based on, click on the picture below.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) should you chose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love all of these companies anyways, and you will too!

#RealHappiness Meditation Challenge 2019 - Day 3

Hey folks! In the challenge today we continued on the theme of concentration and the activity was mental noting. Using a simple word or words to help you focus on your breath. I chose the word joy because it resonates deeply with me. It did not disappoint and the level of calm that I felt was almost instantaneous. It was needed too as I had multiple instances of intense emotion today and I want to be on the downside of this energetic ride I'm on. You can read more about my experience in Mental note - Joy once it is published.

Today I laughed as I read The rather long way I settled into my posture - mental nothing meditation by Mur. I found that I had done the same thing, but was oh so less conscious about it. Cher summed up perfectly why I love meditation in Mental noting, third day of challenge. I was intensely moved by Guthrie's From quiet concentration and the contemplation she shared regarding mercy. Betsy kept it short and simple with Be.I was reminded that we can emit peace to others with Om Shanti by Sarah Rae. 

If you would like to purchase the book that this challenge is based on, click on the picture below.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) should you chose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love all of these companies anyways, and you will too!

#RealHappiness Meditation Challenge 2019 - Day 2

Today was hectic. Like amazingly on the move, not home but for 10 minutes between 8:30 am and 11 pm hectic. I loved every moment because I was helping friends live their dreams and catching up. However, I was anxious because other than my daily mindfulness, which I love, I did not have any meditation time until almost 11:30 pm. Even on the craziest days I am able to get 5 minutes here and there of focused meditation. Well when I finally was able to log in and listen to today's topic I was super excited! The focus continues on concentration and the method of meditation today was hearing meditation. Where have I been that I have not been using this?!? I mean I was able to get to a state of relaxation and calm in record time with little to no effort. When I say relaxation, I mean RELAXATION. Generally it takes me at least 10 minutes not to feel most tension in my body but not this time! My goodness it was amazing and I will absolutely be using this DAILY. 

You can view my short summary of my #RealHappiness experience today on Sharon’s blog here: So excited!

There were several posts by participants that I related to today. When Life Happens All At Once by Sarah was like we were experiencing the same day in a different space. I needed to meditate earlier in the day, but I felt that I lacked the time. She captured so perfectly how meditation enhances what you need so time must be made. 

Another Sarah reflected exactly how I felt when I started meditating regularly a little less than a year ago in Didn't Realize How Poor My Concentration Had Gotten. I wish her nothing but joy. 

I also connected to Mike as I could hear my heartbeat also as he described in Hearing everything and nothing. Normally I try to tune it out by focusing on my breath, which is not an easy thing to do, but today I allowed my self to follow the sound without reacting, just noticing and in less breaths than I could count I could no longer hear it! 

I forgot yesterday to post the link to the challenge, so if you would like to join, you should here. 

If you would like to purchase the book that this challenge is based on, click on the picture below.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) should you chose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love all of these companies anyways, and you will too!

#RealHappiness Meditation Challenge 2019 - Day 1

Today I started the Meditation Challenge facilitated by the awesome Sharon Salzberg. If you aren't familiar with her she is a world renowned meditation teacher known for many things, but especially her teaching on loving kindness. The focus of today was to begin exploring concentration through your breath. Although I meditate daily I appreciate challenges and exercises like this one to help center me back to the basics. Today I reaffirmed what breath is to me. No matter what happens in life, I can always count on my breath. You can read more on how breath is peace for me on Sharon's blog. 

I also really enjoy reading how the challenge is experienced by others. I especially enjoyed Concentration through Non-Action by Sarah Rae Newman. This really resonated with me as the message of "wait" and "non-action" has been very strong for me in the past few weeks. I also really enjoyed If You Are Breathing You Can Meditate. It is a reminder of what you can do in this world of cannot. 

Although I am a meditation teacher as well, I am also a student and I appreciate this opportunity to continue to learn for myself and to better show up in this world for my family, friends and students.

If you would like to purchase the book that this challenge is based on, click on the picture below.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) should you chose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love all of these companies anyways, and you will too!