Clearing the Mind

Recently,

I have been so busy between family struggles, life struggles and raising my amazing boy, that i haven't had time to really sit down and meditate or balance my Chakras.

My life is simply imbalanced, and I recognize this. I am trying to work on changing it making it better and healthier.

I had a friend point out today that I was not clear headed, that my emotions were in control of me, and not the other way around.

Before Riley was born, I had all the time in the world to meditate and balance and heal..but now as new mom, trying to balance him, looking into school and Reikei, dealing with the struggles of my past, and dealing with life in general.

It seems as if I don't have time to do all the meditations I used to..so how do I clear my mind, and balance the stresses of life??

It sounds like you usually get into more complicated forms of meditation, but getting back to the sheer basics can be a good idea when you're overloaded with other stuff that's going on. Even just a few minutes of meditation -- but more frequently -- can make a great difference. Doing energy work to raise your energy during that time could help as well. And finding ways to incorporate nature into your daily life is always a good thing to do.

Hi Jason,

thank you for the ideas!! I don't think I have enough nature around me, so that may be something to look into.

Having been trained as a teacher of meditation 36 years ago by the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, I can give you my professional advice, because I also went through similar "struggles" when I went from being young and had all the time in the world for spiritual pursuits, to being an adult with car payments, home mortgage, career and children of my own. My prescription is to do two brief, 15-20 minute sitting meditations session twice a day, ideally once in the morning before breakfast and once in the afternoon before dinner. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and after a minute of sitting quietly, begin to mentally repeat the mantra, "I am." Just like that, although you are not really saying "I am", only hearing a sound, "Ayam... ayam... ayam..." Just repeat this sound mentally, and when you notice you are thinking some other thought and have forgotten to repeat the mantra, then easily return to "ayam..." When you feel maybe 15 or 20 minutes are up, glance at your watch--if it is not yet time, then just return to the mantra, and if it is time, then stop thinking the mantra but sit quietly with eyes closed for a few moments, coming out slowly. This is simple, quick and very effective for achieving balance, harmony, relaxation and peace in your life, not just during the period of meditation, but in the activities of life outside of meditation. Just grab those two short times each day and do as I have prescribed, and you will be finding a more centered and whole Self emerging week by week...
Namaste,
Michael

Nicole

As a mum myself, I can so empathise with how you feel. The reality is you are now the guardian of a beautiful little spirit who is relying on you to guide him on the first part of his journey through life. It is right that the time you have had for yourself is directed to someone else (a new spirit who chose you because you are special).

Meditation comes in all shapes and sizes and i'm completely dreadful at the formal sit down meditation. I have learned, as a busy mother, that there are other ways ways to meditate. When my daughter was young I used to meditate when I was putting her to bed. Storytime, followed by stroking my daughters head, followed by being totally 'present' e.g. smelling the scent of the shampoo, looking at her eyelashes, watching her peacefully sleeping (get the idea). I did pay the price for this because she loved this routine so much, she still wanted a cuddle at night even when she was 11!!! but hey what are mums for?

I also noticed that you mentioned Reiki. As my daughter was older - I taught her the hand positions and we used to lie on the bed at night doing the hand positions (not a deep Reiki - but it was fun and it did slow my active daughter down.

I also drift off into a meditational state whilst ironing ------ managed not to burn anything yet (lol). Also think about taking your child to play in places that are highly spiritual ----wellies in the woods, paddling on the beach, tackling a wee mountain and once again be totally 'present'. Wait for the wonder to happen it always will with a child.

Good luck and keep your chin up (peace will return)my daughter's in her teens and she's nt in much now so I have loads of time to myself.

Blessings
Andrea

Thanks all of you. I needed a quick 'recipe' for getting back on track as I too have so little time for quiet meditation. I am fortunate in that I live surrounded by nature but still I struggle to find time to absorb it. So I am going to do the 20 minute meditation and hopefully I will be able to get back to absorbing the energy around me. Thanks all.

Ok, so I was poked a little to offer suggestions

I use key words through out the day, archetypes if you will. For instance I'll say "peace" in my mind and then allow every part of myself to truly feel peace, or I'll say "love" and allow all that world means to me to fill my whole being... etc, ect. My Key words are Grace, Love, Peace, Healing, and Joy.
It only takes a moment and it always anchors me.

That's one suggestion..

Another thing I do is to sing and dance especially when I'm feeling drained or "off".

Frequent showers help when energy is intense and lasts for days... that and working in the soil. Helps me keep my balance and perspective LOL and some times my temper.

These are my silly simple things to do... but like I said, I'm sure you'll come up with your own little tricks

Hi Nicole,

There is a very simple exercise that is very effective to clear the mind and you can do every moment of the day is Attention Management. Here's a beautiful video that starts with this exercise, followed by a Shamanic Meditation that helps to relief stress and anxiety within a short period of time.

Hopefully you find time to enjoy the full video, but when you just want to get to know this Attention Management exercise it only takes a few minutes.

Enjoy!

I think the mind will always produce thoughts, there is no way to stop creative potential movements from happening, but 'we' can dissociate from the motion of content. 'I' guess without the process of meditation 'one' can simply play with the awareness by this 'I' mean 'one' can place a direct moment by moment focus on what 'one' is always doing. Fix ones focus on some detail within the application of what is being done. If 'one' is using a brush to clean the floor or whatever be aware of some-part of the body while doing the process until job is complete, then move 'one's' focus unto whatever motion occurs next, any thought not associated with what one is directly doing simply softly return focus back to what 'you' are currently doing. Metal reveries of the past or future will happen, each time one is aware of wandering from the living moment, just return to some aspect of what one is doing in that living moment. Overtime one begins to see clearly and sharply in regard to when 'we' are being taken away from that life imbued animated unfolding moment, this will help to develop a more concentrated non-fleeing focus.