Make Meditation Easier with an Intention

Unlike a mantra, these are intentions for your overall meditation practice. Start your day and live your life intentionally. 

​"I tried meditation, I'm terrible at it." 
​Sound familiar? ​I would be too if I forced myself to sit still and not think thoughts; that sounds very difficult, especially in the beginning. Not thinking is an action or goal, a goal that you're likely to fail at and feel terrible about. Instead, set an intention for your overall meditation experience. Allow it to change each day as you tune into how you're feeling and what you need. 

Meditation is not a punishment. You are not required to sit with your face to the wall on timeout; you can meditate anytime, anywhere. Stillness is a loosely defined concept based on your personal experience; it is an inner stillness, a sinking below the waves. You may love meditating while you walk, paint or do the dishes! However you do it, meditation is a container for self-care, it is a practice of gathering proof that your existence is enough. It is an opportunity to witness any limiting beliefs you may have around your worth and productivity, to practice simply being. It is about curiously welcoming all that arises as a learning opportunity as you peek into yourself.

I never refer to meditation as 'silencing the mind,' I think that is a recipe for failure, loaded with judgement. Meditation is a self-care practice of observing the stories and limiting beliefs that are running your life. From this neutral place of observation, you can choose which thoughts to keep and which to release.

Use these positive, present-tense intentions or create your own:
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"This is a success for whatever it is today."
Nothing monumental needs to happen here. What a relief! To remove judgement and attachment to any outcome under the standard model of success is a victory in itself. This is radical, audacious meditation!

"I am grateful for meditation. Not because it is peaceful but because it can be difficult. I am given the opportunity to hear all of my mind's complaints - that I should be doing something else and worrying about things - and move past that to see a great opening of possibility, to be more than my thoughts." - Christina Robohm, My Moon Magic

"I watch the world go by, resigning as the General Manager of the Universe for a few minutes."
Feel the bliss of realizing that the world will continue on as you prioritize yourself, things might even turn out better than expected when you release control. Watch cars go by and the sun rise, knowing that all is in perfect order. 

"I am neutrally observing my breath, heartbeat, thoughts and the sounds around me."
Cultivating the neutral observer is crucial to being able to choose your thoughts and live an intentional life. Start by listening to sounds externally without naming them, then tune into your sweet heartbeat and breath. Lastly, watch your thoughts come up and pass by without attachment or judgement. Just get to know the kind of thoughts you think, potentially feel how different thoughts feel in your body." 

"I breathe in and accept the present moment as it is. I breathe out and soften into it, releasing resistance." 
Full acceptance leads to surrender, where your intentions can manifest in the most unexpected ways. From a place of control, you're likely to repeat patterns and try to fix things from a fear-based, limited perspective. This intention and breathing practice will help you accept what is, release resistance and allow the magic to unfold. Remember, everything is always workout out for you, even if you don't currently understand it. 

"I am enjoying 108 deep breaths or mantras within the self-care container of my mala beads."
Mala beads are a wonderful container for your meditation practice. Breathe or state a manta as you connect to your intention bead by bead. You'll know you're complete when you reach the final bead. No wondering, "Did I meditate long enough?" The container will hold you until you are done. 

"I dedicate this time to remembering that I am enough, simply by existing. I have enough time for self-care, I prioritize myself." 
Upon awaking, often our first thoughts are of scarcity, "I didn't sleep enough," "I don't have enough time before work," etc. Start your day in an abundant mindset by declaring "I do have enough time! In fact, when I do this first, everything else seems to work out better!"

Learn more about the power of intention-setting and meditation to live an intentional life at My Moon Magic. 

Share your meditation intentions below or tag @My.Moon.Malas on Instagram.