Informal meditation helps tap into the inner voice

Articles abound on the how we should all just stop and meditate. Go inside ourselves . Find that quiet space. Listen to our inner voice.

For me, this always conjures up the image of a yogi master sitting on a mountain top. And the other thought that pops into my head is “I don’t have time to sit still that long.”

But in reality, I medidate daily in some form or other. Because to me, meditation is any activity that allows my mind to just wander. To get past all the noise and let thoughts bubble up to the surface.

I do this is in structured and unstructured ways.

Washing the dishes and running allow my body to go into autopilot, so that my mind can take over.

I love the white noise created by the vacuum cleaner, or the rumble of the hot tub.  They literally block out the rest of the world.

But I also focus my thoughts by working with oracle cards. I still have to ‘let go’, because using cards implies a belief that the cards show up because they are supposed to. I then focus on the imagery and record the thoughts that are invoked.

I have trained in formal meditation techniques, but I don’t use them for revelations. I use them when my body is showing signs of stress or is ill.  The techniques to bring my mind, body and spirit back into alignment. I probably due this about three or four times a year. Certainly not daily or weekly.

I think we all have our own ways of letting go and allowing the deep down thoughts and desires be heard.

The trick isn’t how you get to the inner voice, more so as really listening to the inner voice. And if you tune in on a regular basis, you start to find that the voice isn’t buried so deeply anymore. It starts to make itself heard completely unbidden.

And I always listen. I have learned never to second guess it. It can be something simple like “Don’t put that plate so close to the counter; it will get knocked off” to “do not trust this person” to “take this job that was just offered to you out of the blue”.

Bad things happen when I second guess that voice. Good things happen when I listen.

Are there physical benefits of meditation?

Although we tend to think of meditation as a spiritual exercise, there are physical health benefits. As mentioned, I use formal techniques when my body is ill in some way. I believe I heal and recover much faster because of it.

Here are some documented benefits:

• increases blood flow and slows heart rate
• decreases muscle tension
• increase serotonin
• enhances the immune system
• reduces the activity of viruses

Why is listening to the inner voice more important that ever?

We are changing. Our bodies are going through so much change during our peri-menopause and menopause cycle that somedays we don’t even recognize it. We are starting to pull away from nurturing others and putting the focus on ourselves. Our hormones are on a roller coaster ride and our tolerance level for other people’s ‘silliness’ is next to zero.

It appears as if we are reinventing ourselves.

But I don’t believe we are reinventing ourselves. I am, and always have been, me.  But my changing body, and state of mind, is demanding that I really tune into me. 

Sure, the reality of daily life is I have to still pay attention to all the external noise. But the focus is shifting. First, I listen to what I have to say. Then, and only then, do I interpet what everyone else has to say.

Listening to that voice keeps me glued firmly on what is right for me. And the physical, mental and emotional health benefits of that are immense.

And if I can get those benefits from washing the dishes, then all the better.

Your turn:

• do you practice formal meditation techniques? How often?
• do you always listen to your inner voice, or do you question and second guess it?

Suggested reading:

Meditation … Its Benefits
Meditation and Menopause
Spiritual aspects of menopause