It was Friday evening. Priyanka and I decided to try out a new Thai restaurant adjacent to our workplace for dinner. We entered the grand building and gradually settled into the plush ambience. The setting and the welcome was quite spectacular. We opened ourselves up to the ultimate gastronomic experience but when the food arrived, we decided that a four-year-old could cook better. I started complaining and just went on and on. But, to my surprise, Priyanka (who didn't look very happy with the food either) continued eating! She kept talking about how her day was, how beautiful the restaurant looks and that she was so happy to catch up with me after so long.
She knew that the food was not great but she was still open to trying out something 'new' and actually enjoyed the whole experience. She was all focused on the up-side of things – a rather ideal state to be in. I was going to ask her just how she manages this…and I knew the answer before my thought became word. Of course, she meditates. She does that senior-people-thing every single day of her life. She claims it keeps her mind ‘young’.
We live in a world where lifestyle matters – the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the way we like to spend our leisure time. But, to be able to enjoy all these comforts, we need a mind which is open, happy and at rest. We might have the most spacious king-size bed with an extra-comfy mattress and simply get no sleep. We may buy tickets for the most-talked-about romantic comedy in town and sit in the hall thinking about some nasty comment from our boss instead. Our mind seems to have a mind of its own! It doesn’t really stick to where we want it to be. So, what do we do?
We do what Priyanka does - a few minutes just for ourselves, to be still and silent in our own space. Those few minutes of stillness give deep rest to the mind and relax it. When the mind is at rest, we are better able to enjoy ourselves wherever we go, whatever we do, because we are completely in the moment. As a child, most of us have bought an ice cream and have had the experience of eating it as if nothing exists in the world except the cone and me, savouring every microscopic unit of taste that the creamy divine recipe has to offer. Imagine us eating that same ice cream consumed as part of a lunch meeting for our business and still enjoying it with the same intensity. Theory says it is possible if your mind is totally in the present moment. Priyanka says, “meditate and it becomes practical”.
The state of your mind can help determine the quality of enjoyment of your lifestyle. The more peaceful the mind, the more the enjoyment. We eat well, sleep well, smile more, make the best of every moment, get quality time on our hands and always look good even in just simple plain outfits. In fact, clothes start looking good because we wear them, rather than the other way around. That’s being truly fashionable. That spark, that beauty from within will start reflecting in our whole personality. And then it won't be long before we become the new definition for lifestyle.
Make meditation an integral part of your life and increment your happiness quotient generously. You can start with a few online guided meditations, for an experience, or get your own mantra to meditate at the Sahaj Samadhi Meditation Course. Cheers to a happy life with meditation!
Quick Tips To Include Meditation In Your Lifestyle
- Do it anytime, anywhere! Morning, before lunch, or evening – it’s your choice. At home, in office, in the garden or in a mall – you are sure to find a quiet corner for just 20 minutes
- You can choose to meditate alone in privacy or sit with a group of friends. Group meditation is always more effective though.
- Let your mood not be a hindrance in meditation. On days you are happy, you may be all excited to meditate but when things are not so good, there is all the more reason to meditate. It can help you get over emotional highs and lows.
- It becomes fairly easy to slip into meditation after chanting, singing or listening to bhajans (devotional songs), or while simply sitting in a quiet nature setting. Try one of these for a blissful meditation experience.
Inspired by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's wisdom talks
By Pritika Nair
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