Mindfulness Made Simple: A Challenge to Center Your Week

This week, we’re embarking on an exciting challenge related to mindfulness: we’ll be meditating for five minutes each day! My mother raised me to expect the best from myself, which means aiming high and embracing challenges with joy, energy, and a sense of peace. That’s precisely what this week is all about—a little shake-up to help us grow.

This will be an easy task for some of you, while others might wonder, “Is it okay for me to meditate?” The answer is a resounding yes! I’ve had my struggles with meditation, from trying guided sessions to experiencing those lovely moments of natural mindfulness when I can pause and appreciate the beauty around me.

As we embark on this week of meditation, I imagine we’ll encounter a variety of experiences. For instance, on our first night, we faced a bit of chaos with Peter fidgeting and Claire expressing her expectations quite vocally. But through it all, we remained committed to our practice, offering gentle reminders to each other, which is a key part of this journey.

To simplify meditation, think of it this way: You can either seek to calm your mind and embrace stillness or meditate on something specific—like a moment in the life of Christ. Focusing on meaningful moments can transform our perspective and deepen our understanding of meditation.

Try this simple meditation: Sit still, clear your mind, and imagine you are at your favorite place in the whole world. Take two deep breaths and hold on to that special place. Take two more deep breaths and really feel what it feels like to be in that space. Now you’re all done.

Or:

Sit still, clear your mind, and just be. When something enters your mind, say, “That’s interesting. I wonder why that came into my mind.” Then, push it away and be in the blank space again. Practice staying in the blank space as long as you can, gently moving other thoughts out compassionately as they come into your mind.

I encourage you all to take this week to explore meditation within your belief set, whether independently or with the help of a guided video. Let’s share our experiences, ideas, and inspirations throughout this journey to keep each other motivated. Here’s to a fulfilling Week 18 filled with mindfulness and connection! Enjoy those five minutes each day, or go longer if you want!

Ashley,