Do You Take the Time to "Clean" Your Mind?
I recently read a teaching that I found so illuminating, which compared meditation to our other daily cleaning routines.
"...(meditation) must enhance, soothe, and harmonize the vibrational aspects of the mind and body, cleansing the mind of its habitual clutter."
-Anodea Judith
It's pretty widely accepted that we need to take showers, clean our house and wash our dishes (most) days. We don't expect yesterday's shower to keep us clean through today's adventures and most of us wouldn't think of eating today's dinner on yesterday's dirty dishes (I have my moments).
“Cleaning” Our Minds
In this line of thinking, it makes sense that I should be committed to "cleaning" my mind as well. Our minds, which are constantly thinking, processing, analyzing, and generally running our lives, may just be the "dirtiest" of all! And what's more, how can I expect to tackle today's fresh challenges through the dirty film of yesterday's work?
This spirit of this idea is what helps me show up for my daily meditation practice just as I show up to brush my teeth and wash my face. My mind deserves the best treatment I can give it, and for me, that includes my meditation each morning. I like to let my daily practice be an organic reflection of where I am that day. While I always visualize a white light clearing out the energy of yesterday and protect my energy by "bubbling" myself (check out my Instagram for videos of those practices), I may also add on a specific mindfulness meditation depending on what I feel I need that morning. If I can't slow my brain down, I may practice a breathwork meditation to shift my focus. If I feel out of my body, I may do a relaxation meditation to help me settle back in. If I feel sad or depleted, I may do a loving-kindness or gratitude meditation to open my heart and welcome positive emotions. This tuning into what type of care my body needs in the morning is a beautiful practice all on its own. It helps me harness my intuition and practice a deeper level of self-love.
Meditation Breaks
My practice also includes the breaks I take at any point I feel overloaded during the day. A break may look like taking a few deep breaths at my desk or it may look like my daily stroll around my backyard to feel the sunshine and check in on my plant friends (yes, I send my plants Reiki #plantmom). There is no one right way to meditate, it's just what feels best to you today.
What type of "cleaning" out does your mind need today, and how can you practice that self-care?
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