Simplifying your...thoughts?

My mind always seems to be busy.

If I'm not mentally planning out my day (or week, or month), I'm thinking about something that already happened, or might happen in the future.

It's hard for me to just be.  For my mind to just be here now.

One thing that I've found that helps is meditation.

I went to a group meditation practice (inconsistently--but I still went) In Colorado Springs, and loved the connection to others while also being present and still with myself.

I try to practice meditation on my own, at home...but I tend to procrastinate or avoid it all together.  Because when you're stuck with your own thoughts--there's no doing the dishes or laundry, or anything else to occupy your mind and distract you from what really needs to be dealt with--it can be a bit scary!

Meditation practice is just that--practice.  There's no right or wrong way to do it (believe me, I've critiqued myself enough on this!)--you just find a comfortable position and focus on your breathing.  The rhythmic inhale and exhale.  You can imagine your thoughts are like clouds floating by--watch them come in, and watch them leave--and when you get stuck on a thought, return to your breathing. 

My thoughts were like a runaway freight train when I first started meditating--I actually pictured a train speeding by--that's how many thoughts I had at once!  But as soon as you can allow your thoughts to come and go, it gets better.  Meditation is not about 'stopping your thoughts' as I mistakenly thought it was--it's about allowing your mind to be still.  And when thoughts or feelings arise--let them surface, and then return your focus to your breath.

Another helpful thing to keep your focus on the present is to say a mantra while you breathe.  It can be anything you want to concentrate on for that moment (or day, or week).  Something like "all good things come to me" on the inhale, and "all good things come from me" on the exhale.  Or "I am calm/relaxed/balanced" as you breathe in and out.  

The beauty of meditation is: It's totally personal--and no one knows what you're saying in your head as you breathe in and out!  It's your own special time to slow your body, mind, and breath.  Take notice right now--what is your breathing like?  Is it quick and shallow?  How often do you breathe deep and slow?  When you meditated, you don't have to force your breathing to slow down--it just naturally does, the more you allow yourself to just be still.  

And because meditation is completely personal, you can do it for as long or as little as you like!  When starting out, a few minutes (3-5) was sufficient for me.  Now, 10-15 minutes seems to be a good fit.  A few minutes (or seconds!) every day seems to be the most beneficial, rather than a longer meditation less frequently.  It's kind of like exercising, for your mind :)

Give it a try and see what happens...