The beginning of a beautiful journey

What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the word meditation? Moments of peace? Transcending experiences? Or something older adults do and youngsters laugh about?

Missteps and detours

I remember being 12 when grandma would make me sit in the Padmasana pose, ask me to gently close my eyes, and instruct me to empty my mind. At that moment, so many thoughts would flood my mind. And grandma would know about it. On the other hand, my cousins would maintain beatific expressions that could put yogis to shame. If I did manage to stop the flow of thoughts, I would nod off.

To avoid that embarrassment, I started daydreaming whenever someone would try to get me to meditate. In school, my Hindi teacher was especially fond of meditation. Her words, “Let’s meditate,” were welcomed with much joy. Forty minutes of daydreaming at school!

I didn’t want to admit that I was lost!

As an adult, my 20 minutes of “meditation” time became the much-needed Me Time to help keep my sanity on otherwise hectic days. Even as stress and negativity kept piling on, I refused to admit that I was lost!

Taking the first step

Nearly a decade ago, I attended a Writers’ Workshop. This was a special event. A good friend was releasing her book. There was a 15-minute session by a leading psychotherapist and mindfulness instructor. For the first time in my life, I felt the power of guided meditation. One short session cleared blocks and opened floodgates of creativity. For days, I walked with a smile on my face. A friend jokingly called it Meditation High.

What actually happened?

The event occurred within months of a life crisis. It happened when I couldn’t process the grief, pain, anger, and guilt. I had joined the session somewhat reluctantly, without any expectations. This session was by an expert who knew about beginners’ problems during meditation — wandering mind, sleep, etc. She made us focus on what was bothering us and created a space for acceptance and healing.

Why did I choose to continue on this path?

It wasn’t until much later that I realized that this event marked the beginning of a beautiful journey. Thanks to this experience, I could perceive meditation in a new light — not as a punishment or an escape route, but as a safe space. So, I made a conscious decision to practice meditation. There were a few initial hiccups, such as unreasonable expectations, but it was easy to sustain the habit.

The journey continues…

I made Guided Meditation a part of my life. This practice has helped me cope with grief from the loss of my parents, anger, stress, and so much more. Ten years later, my love affair with meditation continues…