When is the last time you visited a playground?
If you’re a parent or grandparent, probably not so long ago.
If it’s been a while, I invite you to take an adventure to the nearest playground today.
Why?
Joy, Ease and Freedom await you.
When you arrive, pause.
Take in a long, slow inhale and exhale.
Now...
What do you see?
What do you hear?
Kids scurrying around, ecstatic and unleashed.
Screaming, crying, laughing.
Falling, climbing, pushing, pulling.
What's all that ruckus about?
Joy, Ease and Freedom.
Joy of movement. Ease of mind. Freedom of choice.
Want some of that? I do! But I’m not 6 years old anymore.
How can we find joy, ease and freedom every day?
Meditation. No, really?!
The supposed path of meditation
I used to think meditation had to be tediously structured.
Sit painfully still.
Follow strict instructions.
Paste your attention to your breath, a mantra or a focal point.
And it had to last at least 20 minutes or it was no good.
Admittedly, the structured route got me started with my meditation practice. I felt like I need a guide to show me how to keep from getting lost in the chaos of my mind.
I followed a straight and narrow, guided meditation practice for a while. Until I gave up. I quit.
I dropped off the path after a self-imposed 40-day challenge where I increased my sitting time 1 minute every day till I hit 50 minutes. Why would anyone want to do that? Because if a little is good, more is better, right? And who doesn't want to be the best mediator around?
Truth: That practice felt like a chore, like I was being forced to do it, like a bully on the playground was forcing me to do it. Turns out...that bully was me.
Can you relate?
After the bully “challenge” was over, days turned into weeks. Months passed. No meditation. And the effects were obvious. My short fuse lit up almost everyday. My mind swung rapidly between electrified and total shutdown. My fidgety nature was on high speed. So clearly the 40-day challenge did offer some benefits. Only I didn’t realize them until I stopped.
How did I find my way back to meditation?
I chose a different path, one that is filled with joy, ease and freedom.
I call it the Meditation Playground.
Want to join me?
Meditation doesn’t have to be so arduous. In fact you don’t even have to call it meditation. How about Sitting in Silence?
Before I go any further, I must tell you that I’m not a trained meditation teacher. I greatly respect the depth of wisdom that scholarly teachers offer. I hope find and study with a teacher who will guide me to expand my practice, deepen my understanding and connection with the limitless gifts of the meditation.
So, if you’ve been meditating for years, this post may not be for you.
But, If you’re relatively new to the practice, you’ve slipped away for a bit, or you’re looking to spice up your practice, keep reading. Why not try something different? It could be fun!
Here We Go off to The Meditation Playground!
You can do this practice at an actual playground. I highly recommend that! Or you can tap into your imagination, sitting on a chair or blanket in the privacy of your home. The idea is to invite a playful nature into your practice. You may just find Joy, Ease and Freedom!
- Pause. take in a long, slow inhale and exhale.
- Keep your eyes open or closed.
- What do you see?
- What feels inviting?
- Go easy.
- Follow your desires.
Swings- Oh Joy! You’ll go through highs and lows during your practice. You feel like your floating and you’ll feel like you need to pump harder. Can you let go of the effort and entertain an effortless feeling? Come back to your breath and feel the natural flow that happens without any effort. That’s joy!
Sandbox - Sweet Freedom! You can build whatever you want- a mud pie, an alligator, or a castle with deluxe hot tub. Be creative. If you get frustrated and it's not looking good, pause put your hands on your legs and come back to your breath. Ah..freedom.
Merry go round - Ease does it! Your mind will start spinning. Guess what? That’s what the mind does! As you would on a real merry go round, sit still while the mindful merry go round spins. Find a steady focal point, eyes closed or open. If you get dizzy or a little disoriented, you can step off. Come back to your breath. There’s ease.
Each time you visit the meditation playground, you will likely meet all of these delights and obstacles. The adventures are limitless. Allow your mind to flow. If you feel lost or overwhelmed, simply come back to the breath.
Wait...before you leave, grab a seat on the park bench.
Take a minute to sit with the wise old soul who’s been watching you the whole time.
That soul is you. That soul is the witness. The one who sees all and doesn’t judge - she takes it in and knows the joy, freedom and ease that is within you. She is waiting for you. Ahh...now you’ve made contact with the fulfilling essence of meditation. You’ve met yourself.
Some might argue this is not really a meditation practice. Great! Then, it’s not for you. But for me, meditation, or sitting in silence is a practice that brings joy, freedom and ease to my mind, body and spirit.
You’ll notice that I didn’t specify a time for this practice. Let it be whatever you want. That could be a minute, 5, 10 or 15. Set a timer if you need to. Try to drop the restrictions and try to enjoy!
Inspiration to Action: Simple Steps to Enjoy Vibrant Wellbeing
- Visit a playground this week (in reality or in your mind).
- Observe the scene with all your senses.
- Take a seat on the park bench.
- Welcome in a deep breath.
- Maybe, you’ll feel compelled to close your eyes for a minute.
- Feel Joy, Ease and Freedom flow through you.
- Want more inspiration?
I believe everyone can enjoy vibrant wellbeing.
I believe self-care is at the heart of Wellbeing.
I believe I can inspire you to take care of yourself.
