High On Life - It's a Real Thing

 First of all, sorry to my thousands of readers (hardy hah hah) for not posting for a while. My life has become incredibly busy lately (which I love) but it means I don’t have that much time for myself! Which, funnily enough, makes it even more important that I am, no matter what, finding half an hour a day to just sit and meditate and just concentrate on me for a bit.

In my last post I said that I thought I was starting to touch upon something in my meditation sessions. Since then I have had some amazing experiences. I’ve stuck with meditating to music as I have found it really helpful, and each day I have found the half an hour asses quicker and quicker, and I am finding it easier and easier to get ‘in the zone’. And it’s such a good way to start the day: feeling calm, relaxed and focused.

And sometimes, it’s more than that.

Now I can’t say I’ve felt like this every day, but sometimes, after a particularly ‘zen’ session – I feel utterly euphoric. Happier than I’ve ever felt before. Colours are brighter, textures are richer, the air feels great in my lungs. I feel light and bouncy and carefree. Sound familiar? There are several different kinds of drugs that can recreate this feeling – but the difference is that this is a clean euphoria. No side effects, no come down, nothing bad in your system at all. It feels like you’re having your eyes opened for the first time. And it's impossible to have a bad day when you start it like that. 

For fun I googled 'euphoria art' and found this: 

It pretty much sums up the feeling I'm trying to describe. Also I want to point out that the painter, Irene Lee, was fourteen when she did this. You win at life Irene Lee.

So through meditation I’ve really learned the meaning of the phrase ‘high on life’

Seriously, I recommend it.

Eight days left - time is flying!

Am I... doing this right?

So here are some things I have learned about meditation

First of all, this is me:

It’s hard. Like. Really hard. Harder than you would think. People who know me know I am always thinking. My brain is always ticking away. I’m an over thinker. Sometimes it’s a good thing and sometimes it’s a bad thing. For meditation it’s a bad thing. I find it so hard to quieten my brain. But sometimes… just sometimes… something happens and it all feels clear. And if I can figure out a way to get there more often, I am going to love this.

It’s not the same every time. Each day feels different. Sometimes I find it impossible to relax and other times I slip right into it. I’m starting to learn what the best times are for me to meditate. Morning is definitely the best for me. Unfortunately yesterday I didn't get round to it in the morning, and I tried in the evening. Because I had barely slept the night before, I was just too tired. At first I thought it was great – my mind was clearing easily. But then I kept slouching down and I realized I was really just falling asleep! So yeah, morning is best for me, as long as I've had a bit of time to wake up!

I've also tried a range of slightly different methods this week. Today was a bit of a breakthrough. I discovered that music helps me. Of course, not just your average pop music. Go on YouTube and type in ‘meditation music’ and a whole range of super relaxing, zen, gongs and wind chimes stuff comes up. And you know what, it really helps me. For some reason I find it so much easier to clear my mind when I have that music running in the background. I’m not sure exactly how it works but it does.

Now this is what I THINK is the feeling I've been aiming for. Sometimes, it’s like a wave hits my whole body, and I feel slightly on the edge of reality. My body is lighter. And my mind seems clear. Now when I say ‘clear’ – I don’t mean completely blank. It’s more like it’s completely unburdened by my thoughts and worries, and my imagination can just run free. It sort of feels like that moment just before you fall asleep, when you already start dreaming.

Is this meditation? I don’t know. It’s hard to figure out what’s ‘right’ in this kind of thing. But I like it, and I tend to feel pretty good after each session, so I’m going to keep going and see what happens!

More updates soon! Twenty days to go.