With the Feast for the Soul commencing on the 15th January – see my earlier post here – I thought it may be useful to have a quick discussion on habits and share a couple of resources with you.
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Jim Rohn
Meditation is
Like brushing your teeth at night. You don’t have to re-think your commitment, the process or the action itself, over and over again each day .. because you have now made brushing teeth a habit. Meditation is much the same.
If you are planning on joining up for Feast for the Soul this year (which I hope that you are) .. you might like to also sign up for the daily email which will act as a daily reminder and also provide inspirational messages, meditation tips, and practical ways to create a more thoughtful, compassionate, and peaceful life.
My commitment (or Sankalpa) is to SIT for 2×20 minute meditations each day for 40-days .. and I would also like to share my own reflections and part of my own journey via my Facebook and Instagram pages. Come along .. let’s share this adventure!
How To Establish A Meditation Habit
1. Commit to a starting time
Having a dedicated time for your meditation practice provides a significant psychological boost for forming a habit. Random meditations are great: they give us short breaks from thinking and worrying, and rest the body for a moment .. but the real benefits of meditation come from regular, consistent and familiar practice.
Most of us (let’s be honest) need some sort of routine or schedule to get things happening and to keep our intentions alive .. so that we don’t have to re-think or re-motivate ourselves every single time.
2. Commit to a Period of Practice
The Feast for the Soul asks us
“Forty minutes of practice can be divided into two sessions of 20 minutes each to reach the 40 minutes of commitment. It can also be divided into four 10-minute segments where you experience the stillness more often, and thus integrate it into your day in another way. Each person can design their practice so that it meets their personal schedule and lifestyle” Sarah McLean, Director, Feast for the Soul
If you already have a significant sadhana (daily spiritual practice or routine) it is suggested that you might consider:
*Increasing your meditation time to a 40-minute practice once or twice a day
*Living each day with more mindfulness or add another element such as yoga, pranayama or observing a particular
*Making a lifestyle change that honors the natural environment – reduce clutter, consume less, eat a plant-based diet, plant trees, and simplify your way of living.
3. Downloads .. from me
I was pondering today, what I might be able to offer to support your 40-Day practice with the Feast for the Soul this year. A few hours later and I have designed these two tools which I hope you find useful:
40-Day Feast for the Soul Calendar: you might print this out and stick it on the fridge, or tuck it into your diary. Some of us love to tick off tasks or you might want to write down any daily insights or thoughts. A great place to record which guided meditation you completed – creating a meditation journal that you can reflect on after the Feast has finished. And in subsequent years – because once you have done this once you will be addicted. DOWNLOAD THE FEAST CALENDAR
Setting a Sankalpa: this is a brief statement or vow, which we hold close to our heart and repeat regularly as an inspiration and to help us create the life we are meant to embrace. When our mind is calm and quiet our Sankalpa impresses on our subconscious .. and so we plant a seed in our soul. I have written a simple guide to find and record your Sankalpa for this Intensive. DOWNLOAD YOUR GUIDE TO A SANKALPA
“By definition, a Sankalpa should honor the deeper meaning of our life. A Sankalpa speaks to the larger arc of our lives, our dharma – our overriding purpose for being here” Rod StrykerR
Let’s do this