A few days ago, for various reasons, I missed meditating. I didn’t meditate in the morning as is my usual routine, and I didn’t mediate in the evening as I often do if I miss the morning.
Oh, my how I missed it.
It started me thinking about healthy habits, how easy they can be to build, and how critical they can become to our daily routine. Yes, I also realize that once you’re out of routine it can be difficult to get those habits back! That’s why, even though I’m out of routine thanks to slipping on ice and whacking both knees on the concrete, I’m trying to maintain modified versions of my morning routine so it’s easier to get all of it back once my knees heal.
Let’s say, for example, that you would like to start running. Maybe the long-term goal is to run a half marathon, then a marathon.
How reasonable is it to think you can get up the first day and run 5 or 10 miles on your way to that half marathon? Give yourself a break! Unless you’re already a runner, this isn’t a reasonable start. If you don’t get that first five-mile run done on day one, maybe you’ll be discouraged and not keep going. So maybe day one is running around your block, or for a quarter mile, or… Do you see where I’m going here? Run it until it’s easy, and then add to it. Build it up. Sooner than later, you’ll not only be adding time, you’ll be enjoying it. (For the record, even thinking about this today makes my already sore knees hurt, but I like the idea!)
Let’s say that you’ve read all sorts of articles online about meditation and its benefits and you want to start. You sit down, in a quiet room, in a comfortable chair or on a cushion on the floor, close your eyes, and…THOUGHTS THOUGHTS THOUGHTS. All of the thoughts of the day start whacking into your brain, interrupting your quiet, making you THINK. Yeah…I have news for you…meditating isn’t about turning off your brain. It’s about focused quiet and changing your energy. It also isn’t going to go well if you try for an hour immediately. How about a minute? And after a minute becomes easy, then two, then three, and so on. Do you see where I’m going here? :)
A healthy habit doesn’t have to be jumping in to massive changes all at once. In order to become a habit, something has to be practiced and practiced and practiced until it becomes routine. Necessary. Enjoyable, hopefully! Cheers! Here’s to your health!