I’ve been meditating for as long as I can remember.
Here I am, where it all started, perfecting my seated meditation posture in the paddling pool!
I’m joking, of course.
The truth is, I’ve got a very busy mind and meditation doesn’t come easy to me.
In fact, I used to avoid it like the plague…
But that all changed when I discovered Buddhism.
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At the time I was suffering from the worst anxiety I’d ever experienced. My mind just wouldn’t stop worrying!
I’d worked my way through every self-help book under the sun to try and turn things around…
And then, on the recommendation of a friend, I read a book by the Dalai Lama: The Art of Happiness.
The Buddhist approach to working with the mind (including a lot of meditation!) was unlike anything I’d read before.
Something just clicked.
And it wasn’t long before I found myself on a yoga mat too. For me, yoga isn’t exercise – it’s moving meditation.
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Still with me? Great!
Because here’s the important part…
I discovered Buddhism, meditation and yoga because of my anxiety, but they’ve helped me with so much more than that.
And I genuinely believe they can help you too.
They’ve taught me new ways of thinking – new ways of working with my thoughts and feelings. My mind has become a much calmer and happier place.
But as well as having a busy mind, I also have a very busy life – and in the past, I used to feel a bit blown around.
Buddhism, meditation and yoga keep me grounded. It’s sort of like I always have a base camp to return to – an oasis of calm to tap into.
And they’ve shown me a completely different approach to living.
I no longer feel like I’m caught in the rat race, or just going through the motions. I’m more in tune with how I’m feeling and what’s important to me in life.
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It isn’t always easy. Life has its ups and downs just as much as I have my dips and wobbles. (Sometimes literally, I wobbled a lot when taking this pic!)
But I’ve come a long way from where I started.
And I’d like to share with you what I’ve learnt so far, in case it helps you on your own journey.
If you’re interested in meditation, you might like to check out my free guide to meditation.
Or perhaps you’ll head straight to my posts for some practical tips and tricks!
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And please don’t be a stranger. Please do say hello!
I’d love to hear which seeds of zen you choose to water and grow.
Chantel xxx