Meditation and Mindfulness

Last year my husband started reading about meditation. He regularly came to me with this newly acquired knowledge of techniques and intentions. 

I was surprised to realize that I was feeling threatened by his ‘authority’ on the matter. I was the one on a spiritual journey, studying and practicing meditation for several years.  Who was he to 'school me'? I was possessive of the entire topic of meditation.

Hello Ego! 

I received the gift of this trigger to bring me introspection and growth.  

In addition, I found myself in resistance to reading the Headspace book; it had a casual and modern feel. I wanted to believe that all good meditation techniques stemmed from ancient times, wrapped in deep philosophies, and communicated by gurus.

Fast forward a year, and I found myself without a good book to read, antsy to find something. Of course, the Headspace Guide crossed my path again. I decided to give it a chance, and I am so glad that I did!

Andy Puddicombe’s book, The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness, is fantastic for a beginner or someone who has been practicing meditation for years. Andy is the voice and creator of the Headspace App.

Andy explains the wandering mind with fantastic metaphors and analogies, making abstract concepts simple to understand and remember. He suggests gentle ways to tame the mind into a quiet state.

I appreciate that Andy shares his failures along with his successes. He is able to laugh at himself, his unproductive expectations, and stories of seeking enlightenment. He considers the mainstream expectations of meditation, shows their fallacies, and presents methods to move forward productively.

The Headspace Guide teaches that the purpose of meditation is to be present and aware in our lives. He urges the reader to begin a 10 minute daily practice, and witness the unfolding in their lives. He explains how to bring this into every-day life through walking meditation, eating meditation, seated meditation, sleeping meditation and while engaged in any activity. The rewards include more contentment and joy, better sleep, closer relationships, improved health, and overall feelings of ease and well-being.

I hope you enjoy this book, and find yourself eager to experiment with mindfulness and meditation in your life.