To Music Or To Not....
Hey Lovely!
I hope you are doing well during this strange flux in time we are calling 2020! I know that figuring out how to manage this time looks different for us all. Some days feel like a cluster of chaos and some days I feel like I’m at the top of my game. I finally found that creating a schedule for myself was crucial to my mental health. It has kept me focused, grounded and feeling as though I have accomplished something each day. While the schedule looks different everyday (because let’s face, I am a Mama) my routine is a constant and always starts with meditation. I know what you are thinking, “How do you find time for meditation Mama?” The answer is that I have an agreement with my Partner on sectioning out the day so we each get time to focus. I know that in this respect I am extremely blessed. Having once been a single Mama of two, it took me a long time to learn to manage my time in a way that also gave back to me. I use to meditate in the shower because it was my only time alone…if I was lucky.
In that time that I have, I MAKE it a priority. I make it the first thing on my list.
It has become an anchoring force in handling the drastic change in life. It helps me ride the wave of anxiety I feel at a changing career, a changing home life and frankly the feeling of being “shut in” sometimes. Because of this I wanted to take a moment and answer one of the most asked questions I get as a spiritual teacher and the question I literally ask myself everyday….
To Music or To Not?
First you need to ask yourself what your intent for meditation is that day.
When to use music in meditation:
When the intent is to relax, destress or release emotion
When you are looking to be inspired to write
When the environment around you is loud
If you are a beginner
If you tend to fall asleep during meditation
Because you want to!
When to sit in silence
*If music distracts you from your intent (ie. the music is more distracting than it is helpful)
*If you are looking to connect with the Spirit World
When you are outside in nature (Nature sounds are natural meditation enhancers and a beautiful addition to any meditation)
Your home is quiet and allows you to do so
Because you prefer it
The truth friend is that this option changes for me on the daily. There is no absolute way to how you show up for your meditation. As my friend Lauren Rainbow says, “that’s why we call it a practice!”
You have to find what organically works for you. You have to listen to what feels good for your Soul. The most important thing is that you don’t neglect this aspect of you and what is ultimately an amazing tool to manage so many of things you might be feeling right now. It doesn’t have to be everyday, it doesn’t have to be for a really long time (seriously, sometimes I only meditate for ten minutes). I encourage you to sit down and write down the days and approximate time(s) of day to give back to yourself with a little breathing and meditation. By writing it down we breathe life into it and it helps hold us accountable. It also feels freaking good to mark off a “to do” list!
As always…
I hope you know the Universe loves you, Spirit loves and that I love you!