Meditation made simple!
By Pascale Jacquin
I thought meditation was a very complicated matter and that you needed a Zen degree or to live in a monastery to be able to do it. No wonder it took me months to finally decide to meditate!
Someone then recommended Thich Nhat Hanh's books to me. So I rushed to buy The Serenity of the MomentDescription: https://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mamzellebeaut-20&l=as2&o=15&a=229001477Xand, from the first sentences, I was seduced. Because Thich Nhat Hanh, unlike others, explains meditation to us in such a simple way that it becomes accessible.
In fact, meditation is simply breathing. But not the kind of breathing we do every moment of our lives without realizing it, but rather conscious breathing. As the author explains, this breathing can be done for 15 seconds, one minute, thirty minutes, three hours… The important thing is not the duration, but the frequency – the more often you practice it, the better.
In his book, the monk gives us several examples to easily integrate meditation into our busy lives. Examples? Breathe every time we are stopped at a red light instead of cursing the light that slows us down; breathe when the phone rings (we have at least three rings before the call goes to voicemail!); breathe before eating to remember to stop and enjoy our good meal .
Mom's Tip: I tried meditation with my 3-year-old daughter, who often throws tantrums. As soon as she starts to lose her temper, I take her hands and encourage her to breathe in and out. It often passes immediately, because it calms her and takes her mind off things!
Finally, meditating is so simple. I wonder why I waited so long to start! And I realize that I've been meditating for a very long time, without realizing that's what I'm doing!
And you, do you meditate?
Photo: mariphotographie
