Don’t be Afraid of the Woo-Woo

I often hear as a therapist and friend,“I don’t do meditation - all that woo-woo stuff is too out there for me. ” I have to admit... I love the woo-woo. I get that buzzwords of “mindfulness” and “meditation” generate emotional and sometimes physiological reactions from those who might not have great experiences with dipping their toe in the water of these practices. My hopes in writing this is to provide alternative ways of thinking about the woo. Be open, get excited or roll your eyes, and read on.

I’ve been practicing some form of mindfulness for about the past 8 years. Curious about Eastern philosophies for a very long time, it took some initial reading by Eckart Tolle and Deepak Chopra to spark my interest in taking action and beginning a transformative journey. When I say the word mindfulness, what do you think? Is it about being “Zen” and free from internal struggle for minutes or hours on end? Is it doing yoga? Going for a hike with your dog? Savoring your favorite cup of coffee or dessert without distraction? Is it simply noticing your thoughts and feelings and how they impact your day? The correct answer is: all of the above. Mindfulness is about staying connected to the here and now without judgment or agenda. It’s simply being aware of and observing what is occurring around you and inside of you. It allows you to cultivate the understanding “You are not your thoughts - you are the awareness observing your thoughts.

”This spiritual / psychological teaching is one of the most profound things to learn in our lifetime in my opinion. I love yoga. I practice probably about 5 days a week. It’s not about getting fit or checking a box on my to do list. Yoga is moving meditation for me. It allows me to connect with my body and notice my thoughts trying to distract me from my intention of engaging in the here and now. From my yoga practice I began dabbling in meditation. I was curious about what it would be like to cultivate the ability to sit in stillness, notice my breath, notice my thoughts, gain clarity about who I am, what I want to contribute and how I want to be in this world. I had a deep desire to connect to my true self and base my choices on an inner knowing, an expansive clarity without outside influences. I was hooked.Everyone has routines that work well for them. Some folks are morning people; some are night owls. I never thought in a million years I’d be one of the former but, now in mid-life, that is my jam. I love getting up early when it’s still dark, enjoying the quiet, setting the lights just perfect, lighting my favorite candle and pouring a delicious cup of coffee. I created a space in my home which brings me great joy and calm.

Here is what I’m looking at each day:

I listen to a 15 - 20 minute meditation through my Chopra App, Calm App, Insight Timer, whatever I choose that morning. It is a blissful way for me to start my day, clear my mind, set an intention and give gratitude for all the wonderful things, experiences and people in my life. Sometimes meditations involve mantras (or Sanskrit words with meanings which allow your mind to focus while sitting in stillness), some use English words, some encourage imagery, some use sounds / music. All are effective and it’s about giving it a go until you find something that works for you.

Now a lot of feedback I get from clients is “I know that it would be so good for me but I don’t have time to be mindful. ” My answer is ok let’s practice together and then I run them through a 3 - 10 minute exercise in our therapy session. What is the response afterword? “I feel calm.” “I feel like I just went to a spa.” “I feel like I just soaked in a hot tub.” Fabulous. And all of which was created in under 10 minutes. Are we worth 10 minutes a day? Do we actually have the time and we’re just afraid of the woo? Our minds can generate all kinds of reasons and excuses for not trying something new - but that’s our ego wanting to pursue the path of least resistance.

We know how to distract ourselves and run around ragged all day with busy-ness. But what would happen if we tried just a little bit of something different? Read my next blog to explore some practical mindfulness, and reach out if you'd like to see how we can work together.