Meditation: Soaking in What You Love

Written by Kyle Schauenberg

Did you know that you can choose anything you love and turn it into a mantra for meditation?  After all, meditation is simply the practice of steeping in the sensation of anything you love, and letting that sensation soothe and restore you.

One way to begin any meditation is to ask yourself some variation of “what do I love?” Here are some ways to ask yourself:

• What am I loving today?

• What would make me feel loved today?

• What’s inspiring me lately?

• If I could connect with anything at all and be with it for 20 minutes, what would that be?

• What makes my heart feel free (or expanded or alive or in love) right now?

Simply being with these questions for a few minutes will begin to soothe your nervous system. It can feel really lovely to linger in the question and enjoy the feeling of wondering about what makes your heart come alive.

When an answer to your question surfaces, turn that answer into a mantra. The mantra could be a word or a phrase, like “nature” or “the breeze on my face” or the name of a person or your dog. It could be a word that encapsulates a special memory or a hope for the future.

And then steep in the sensation of your mantra. Let yourself soak in it and absorb the feeling completely. When you have other thoughts and feelngs, don’t be concerned. All parts of you are soaking in the energy of what you love. And the effect is rejuvenating, refreshing and healing.

Photo by Anita Austvika