These days I am grateful to be alive and totally in love and in harmony with my life’s purpose. It is the art of mindfulness that has been my main stay and has led me to this joyous place in time.
The way I used to wake up and treat the new day was horrific. “Oh, for goodness sake, is it morning already?” “Not another disastrous day.” “Surely, not another day like yesterday.” “How can I get everything done today”? “Life is a hassle.” These were my thoughts upon waking. What the heck was I thinking? No pun intended!
Life was a struggle back then. My moods were up, down, and all over the place. No wonder with all of that stinking thinking.
I use to think, “Does meditation mean you have to be still, quiet, and clear your mind? How boring is that? I have places to go, people to see. How on earth do I have time to sit and ‘Om’ like a monk? No way Jose. Get me some high-powered caffeine, turn on some tunes and hit the pedal to the metal. That will get me going and going and going, right?” Wrong.
I resisted learning the art of meditation for years. I thought it was too hippie-ish. You know, the people that went to Pune, India searching for their life purpose. Oh, and I tried it once and it didn’t work. It doesn’t work for everyone, I thought. Excuses, excuses.
When I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer and given 3 – 6 months to live – it was a wakeup call of the highest magnitude – pay attention Prue.
“Try mediation,” a friend of mine said. “It really calms you and helps your body to heal.”
“Oh, I tried that years ago and it didn’t work for me.”
How often did you do it?” my friend said.
“Just the once,” I replied.
I’m laughing so hard as I write this post – how pathetic was I?
I’ll bet some of you reading this post right now have the same opinion about meditation I did back then. Well, I learned the hard way and I don’t want you to have to, so please pay attention because I can tell you from experience – 25 years to be exact – it is worth every second. I love meditation. It is my escape from the real world. Bring on the peace and tranquility.
I am truly grateful for my cancer diagnosis. The journey led me to the art of meditation.
Like anything, meditation is a commitment. The hardest thing about meditation is making the time to do it! Notice I said making the time and not finding the time. If you try to find time, you never will.
Our lives are overstimulated. When did you last Facebook, Twitter, text someone or buy something? Maybe you did all of these in the last hour! We are out of control.
When I coach overworked, high-anxiety people, I suggest a mediation plan. It can be overwhelming to begin so I have a baby step action plan to get them started.
I get push back all the time from my clients. “I can’t sit still long enough.” The classic one is, “I don’t have time” or “I tried it once and didn’t like it,” sound familiar?
Excuses be gone people. Just do it and see for yourself.
Happy mindfulness.
