Inner peace and how to find it

Today I want to talk about inner peace and how to find it.

Meditation is sooooooooo good for us, right? We have all heard it, read the research and seen the benefits had we ever attempted to stay in that savasana long enough (you know, that minute of quiet magic at the end of a yoga class).

 

Yet, it becomes one of those things that is so elusive and even though we may commit to doing it, we would much rather be doing anything else. Sounds familiar?

 

Yes – including myself. Meditation benefits are incredible for the body and the mind, but making ourselves sit silently for even five minutes can be very hard. How come?

 

Well, it is in those five minutes that our mind goes into overdrive and makes us think of all the other things we should be doing and unfortunately, can turn into a miserable experience. Many quit and never come back.

I have found a way to meditate and quiet my mind in such an incredible way on those days when my mind is going 100 miles per hour. No, it is not sitting in a cross-legged position for hours.

 

It is as easy as listening to 5 minute podcast as I wash the dishes or right before I go to bed.

 

Years ago, when I was on my own search for meaning, I came across a podcast by Stin Hansen: My Thought Coach. I downloaded few free meditations and affirmations from iTunes and my life has never been the same. For the last four years, this podcast is my greatest guru and the source of my inner peace.

 

Stin’s voice is angelic and the music she uses is hypnotizing. She does a lot of research and is very deliberate with the words she uses. Her podcast includes healing meditations, motivations affirmations and more. In fact, it was her birth podcast I used the most when I was preparing to give birth naturally.

 

I am not saying that you will like it and that it will work for you. But, it is free and as easy as putting on your phone or iPod. Why not try it? So, When do I listen to it?

 

• When I drive to see my clients.
• When I walk around the lake.
• When I am washing dishes (my husband will tell you that this is rare occasion though:)).
• Right before a nap or going to bed.
• When I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t sleep (this is happening a lot lately since my baby wakes up and then I can’t go back to sleep).
• When I lift weights. Yes my friends, you heard it right! Her affirmations give me more heart pumping energy than any Pitbull or Rihanna song.

 

Why is inner peace so important? Without it, pursuing our goals becomes an uphill battle. Following your purpose is not necessarily an easy path.

 

You have to focus, work hard (harder than you ever have), give up things, face the comments and criticism from “others”, and then get up and do it all over again.

 

It IS hard work and we need something to help us balance and find our center.

 

If you try it and it is not for you, then dedicate some time to finding what does. To help you out, many recommend the meditation that Oprah and Deepak Chopra are doing and it may be useful. Here is a nice explanation of what it does before you decide to jump in.

 

Do you have any other techniques you would like to share? What has worked or hasn’t worked for you?

 

May you find your inner peace, whatever that looks like for you.