The Accidental Meditator

Meditation makes me nervous. All those rules: You’re supposed to be Zen, find your center, solve existential problems, and get clear. Ha! All that happened to me was a mind-list of to-do’s.

Until I discovered my rock garden that had always been there.

I hadn’t planned on quasi-meditating on a daily basis. But, I hadn’t planned on a quasi-significant medical diagnosis either.

The great news – I’m healthy. I feel fine. The other great news – I picked up a neat habit during the time I was sick. One morning while I was recuperating I wandered outside and sat in my rock garden. It had always been a lovely place to view from the window; but, who had the time to actually GO there?

What began as a get healthy again technique has turned into an almost daily ritual that can be done anywhere and at any time. Even if you are so busy you can’t squeeze in one more thing – you can do this ‘quasi-meditation’. It’s free, it’s simple, and it’s quick.

Here’s what you do:

1. Go somewhere you love. If you can’t, then just picture that place in your mind.
2. Think about the 3 things that went well within the last 24 hours. (This is one of the highest predictors for happiness.)
3. Think about what you are grateful and thankful for.
4. Think about those people who are not doing so well and send them a mental hug.
5. Think about how you want your day to go. What’s the theme for the day? Example: a day with focus, or a day with flow, or a day with laughter.

That’s it. You can do this. Better yet, tweak this list to meet your needs. Have fun finding your own Rock Garden Moments!

Karen, a presentation skills executive coach in Dallas, can be reached at www.karencortellreisman.com