What's your non-negotiable?

I have certain things I do everyday that are non-negotiables for me. They’re like brushing my teeth, I don’t have to think about them, I just do them.

Meditation falls into this category. It is the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning. By creating that space for myself, I  set the tone for the rest of my day.

Starting the day off with time just for me makes it more likely that I will do  other things for myself throughout the rest of the day. This is something that has been super challenging for me my entire life. Carving out small spaces throughout my day helps me to be more consistent with it.

It also gives me the opportunity to really tune in to what I am feeling when I wake up. I can tap into the thoughts and emotions that are present so I can see them with clarity instead of letting myself get wrapped up in the  story my mind creates around them. Often when we acknowledge emotions, thoughts, and feelings they either lessen in intensity or dissipate completely. 

When we can see and accept ourselves in all our messy humanness, then we can do the same thing for those we come in contact with. It helps us truly be present with people and see them and their struggles more clearly.

Pema Chodron says it best, “Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending who we already are.”

What an amazing gift; accepting and appreciating who we are. That kindness and compassion is what will help create a better world.