That’s a wrap - another Christmas officially in the books! I think its fair to conclude that this holiday season was unfamiliar, odd, and definitely lonely for many.
Personally, I really missed my family. In light of their absence, I became extremely grateful for technology. If you know me at all, you know that these words have never crossed my lips. In fact, to me technology is SCARY! I have a hard enough time turning on my laptop, let alone navigating Zoom calls, group Facetime etc.
If anything, the pandemic has pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’ve accepted and adapted to our “new normal” and in turn, learnt new ways of doing things. Yes, I’m a creature of habit that typically prefers to stay in my comfort zone, but I’m beginning to become a little more accepting of technology because it allows me to stay connected with my family and friends at this time.
One thing that keeps me connected to my thoughts and emotions during these times is meditation (I know, I know, I sound like a broken record) Meditation helps me to remain present and aware - I believe that living in the present moment is where we experience the least amount of stress.
Stress evolves from dwelling on past events and worrying about the future “what ifs”. Often times, these “what ifs” never happen. Therefore, the only thing that happens when we worry about the past and the future is the destruction of our peace in the present moment. Meditating helps me to become aware of my thoughts. Understanding your thoughts through awareness helps you identify whether you’re in a fear-based thought or a good- feeling thought. After that identification, the choice is always yours!
Meditation is an activity you can do as a family. I suggest starting with guided meditations. Even as an experienced meditator, I still practice guided meditations. There are a variety of these available all over the internet – find one that resonates with you. Along with practicing, I also write meditations. If you click on the “meditation” tab on my website, there’s a free children’s meditation you can do as a family. I plan to post some free audio ones catered for adults in the next month.
Begin with finding a position (sitting or laying) that’s comfortable. Close your eyes and play your chosen meditation. I suggest beginning with one that’s around five minutes. As the family becomes more familiar with the process, you may want to start playing ones that are a little longer.
Once the meditation finishes, take the time to discuss what each person saw, felt, or heard during their meditation. This also opens doors for discussion about how everyone is feeling. Meditation really does bring up a lot of unexpected emotions. If children have a hard time verbalizing their emotions, you could have them draw a picture of their experience or ask them to write about it. Guided meditations will definitely help everyone stay connected and are a great activity for the family to do while at home.
Hopefully, this is another strategy to help us all adapt to our new reality.
Until next time...try meditation!
All my love and support.