Like many of us, I first discovered meditation and mindfulness as a way to relax, de-stress and deal with the seemingly endless stream of thoughts whirring through my brain. Initially, it was incredibly difficult to meditate. To sit and do nothing felt like a waste of time when I was so busy. But soon I noticed that doing just that for 10 minutes a day allowed me to get off the merry-go-round, giving me the sanctuary my overtaxed mind so desperately needed and – as all who meditate will tell you – the ‘empty’ minutes seemed to create, rather than waste, time.
Every session would feel different and, although I was grappling with often-difficult thoughts, I gradually began to find it easier to direct my attention to the present for longer periods. I became more focused and started experiencing moments of pure joy, which would bubble up out of everyday happenings and events.
But it was not until recently, during a silent retreat that brought up a cataclysm of buried emotion, that I started applying real discipline. So, I found an experienced teacher and began meditating twice a day.