Getting Started…

Welcome friends! Congratulations on making the decision to take this very special 10 day meditation challenge. It means the world to me that you are here.

I encourage you to interact with one another on the Facebook page under the comment area of each challenge link that I post. As a mindfulness community, we can offer support and feedback on each day of this special time together.

All you will need is a pen, a piece of paper, and 15 minutes (5 to prepare and 10 to meditate).

Oh…and I do have one requirement. 🙂

My requirement is that you make this 10 days fun and enjoyable. This is a chance to be creative and grow. It is not meant to be stressful.

Really quickly, I’m going to tell you what will happen during this journey. Every day, we will read a short, inspirational blog post. We will then create mantras based upon the post of the day. (For those of you who are new to meditation, mantra is defined in this first post.) We will then meditate for 10 minutes, using the mantra as a mental focal point.

This isn’t meant to be difficult. It’s a chance to challenge and free your mind. Enjoy the process! And if you have any questions, definitely reach out to me. I’m always here to help-as are the other members of our mindfulness community.

Are you ready to get started?

Day One- Don’t wish for change. BE change.

It’s January first…the day so many will set New Year’s resolutions, vowing to forever change their lives. They will quit smoking, begin diets, and even give up beloved chocolate treats.

They will BELIEVE that these changes will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, you and I both know that most of these intentions will be forgotten weeks or even months down the road.

This is NOT going to be you this year. With our support, you will succeed in completing this 10 day meditation challenge. But I need you to do something for me. I need you to stick with this challenge-even if you want to skip a day. Do not give up.

Here we go!!!

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “be the change you wish to see in the world.”

In truth, we spend our lives wishing that things were different. We complain about how things are. But we often do little to make changes ourselves.

On this first day of 2015, I want you to think about the change YOU wish to see in the world. What example do you want to set? If you could look back at your life one year from now, what would you have wished you had done differently?

Exercise One

Make a list of the changes that you want to see in the world that you can reasonably make. Use the words “I am” as the first two words in each sentence. Spend no more than 5 minutes doing this exercise. Don’t overthink. There is no right or wrong answer. This is meant to be a stress free and fun exercise. Set a timer if you feel caught up in spending too much time brain storming.

Now pick the one answer that stands out to you most. This will be
your intention for today. I want you to use this intention as a mantra.

Side Note:
A mantra is a word or sentence repeated during meditation. Mantras give the mind a positive focal point while meditating.
Examples of mantras for this exercise could be “I am compassionate.” “I am patient.” “I am kind.” “I am gentle.” “I am peaceful.”

Now get comfortable. I want you to meditate for ten minutes, using this mantra as your focus. Set a timer if you feel inclined. Sit comfortably, and gently repeat your mantra. Breathe in…”I am (insert your mantra).” Breathe out…”I am…(insert your mantra).”

If you feel comfortable, share your mantra with our Facebook community. And congratulations on completing day one of this challenge.

You did it!!!!!!!! See you tomorrow.