Hey everyone! Welcome to Day 8 of 21DMC!

It's now the beginning of Week 2! We're now into the 2nd third of our 3-week 21-day meditation challenge. Let's now review the group's progress for the past week (updated as of the time of this post):



I'd like to take this chance to congratulate AH888, Amanda, Annamarika, annanbananamc, Apu, Ariane, Bob, christinick, Dule, elezhara, Faiz, fufu, ganeshmuthiah, ilianaki94, Ish, Luis_magalhaes, Matt, MissOhlsson, niem, nrwilson, Praying Mantis, Saf, seremina, serenity89 and Vellata for committing to your daily meditations and reporting duly in the group threads in week 1. You guys have done a marvelous job and you ought to be *extremely* proud of yourself!

For those who missed out one or a few days of meditations in your first week, it's okay! There's no need to beat yourself up over it. Neither is there a need to try to justify or defend yourself on why you didn't commit to your original intention. Simply understand why you weren't able to follow-through on your original 21DMC plan, accept that, and seek to address that moving forward. Resistance is when problems persist; acceptance and acknowledgement is when things change for the better.

With the start of a new week, I'll be starting with a fresh chart/fresh sheet in our group progress records. Let's start Week 2 on a fresh start and try to commit to our 21DMC schedule as much as possible!

By the way, as we are now moving into Week 2, I'll be closing off the earlier days' threads (Threads for Days 1-3 have now been closed). I'll be closing off threads for Days 4-7 in due time. For Week 2 onwards, please ensure that you try to post within 1-2 days of your meditation so we can move along as a group.

Once again, to be included in the chart every day, simply fall into the group meditation threads that are posted in this very forum daily.

Share Your Meditation Experience For Day 8!

1. Were you able to complete your meditation practice today? Why/Why not?
2. If yes, how did your meditation go? What meditation did you do? Where did you meditate? How long did you meditate for?
3. Anything you want to share about the meditation itself?
4. Anything you have learned for yourself today? (whether related or non-related to meditation)

Look forward to reading your updates!

"If you want to get something you have never gotten before, you've to do something you've never done before."
Personal Excellence - For people passionate about achieving excellence in life

1.Were you able to complete your meditation practice today? Why/Why not?
2.If yes, how did your meditation go? What meditation did you do? Where did you meditate? How long did you meditate for?
3.Anything you want to share about the meditation itself?
4.Anything you have learned for yourself today? (whether related or non-related to meditation
1. Yes, but only a brief one. I'm still so pressed for time given work and school, but that's all the more reason I need to slow down and meditate.
2. The meditation went smoothly...I did a guided meditation on relationships I sat in a chair in my office and meditated for about 10 min.
4. I've learned that I really need meditation!

Thanks so much Celes! You're really sweet.
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2. If yes, how did your meditation go? What meditation did you do? Where did you meditate? How long did you meditate for?

Meditation went perhaps a little better than before. I concentrated on my breath. I meditated some time on the veranda and most of the time while sitting on my bed. I meditated for 2 hours and 2 minutes.

4. Anything you have learned for yourself today? (whether related or non-related to meditation)

It helps me to practice not engaging in useless thoughts.

"Love is a state of Being. Your love is not outside; it is deep within you. You can never lose it, and it cannot leave you." -Eckhart Tolle

Hurray for a successful practice for week #1!

Today, I did another Tara Brach meditation, Awake and Relaxed, for 21 minutes.

My cat kept bringing me back to the present moment, as she licked my leg, purred in my face, and swished her tail around. I had a hard time sitting because I went to the gym and did weights for the first time in a long time a few days ago, and my body is full of aches and creaks. It was hard to get comfortable. I finally laid down and that helped a bit.

Then I started thinking about all the things I need to do today. Noticed that and let it go, back to the breath.

this is a really nice way to start my day.

Thanks Celes!

Okay, a quick reply: I managed the 1.5h I planned today. It's my record so far for 21DMC.

~Amanda

Hello guys, my blog has been launched. Hope you can pop by! Great Life Blog

Day 8 -15 minutes and it seems the settling down to a solid sitting feel is finally happening. Easier to get my mind slowed down but still not clear and holding concentration on the breath. Still its a big improvement n Day 1. I see some of the fellow meditators putting in some big times....gives me encouragement to move to next step and try some 'determined sitting' wherein objective is not to move, anything, for a while.

Hi Celes, i had been away on safari for the last few days and the hustle refused me of any me time let alone time for meditation......i know its no excuse but going to drive in the nail as of tomorrow

Meditation is the acknowledgement with the inner self

I did 25 minutes of meditation. I am now happy to say that I can now do a self guided meditation. This helps me make it super personalized. After listening to a couple guided meditations i now know what to focus on to start the inward journey.

I will still be listening to some more guided meditations to fine tune.

Happy week two to all!

Thanks Celes
In fact except for one day (Thursday) I was quite happy to sit down and meditate.

Today I did a 14 min sitting meditation, counting my breath (1 in, 1 out, 2 in, 2 out...) to 100.

I think that this kind of meditation is going to be very effective.

More details in my journal.

Were you able to complete your meditation practice today? Why/Why not?

Yes Worked for 3 hours, so it was time to "empty" my brain a bit. Still had lots of time before dinner, so no problem!

If yes, how did your meditation go? What meditation did you do? Where did you meditate? How long did you meditate for?

20min (second week, woot!), sitting against a wall on my terrace under the sun, legs extended in front of me. Decided to listen to a guided meditation as 20min seemed long to me.

Anything you want to share about the meditation itself?

I didn't choose the best mp3 ever, or maybe it's all of them, but the guy's voice cutting the music tends to irritate me a bit Forced myself to take it easy.
In the end, the 20min felt like 15

Anything you have learned for yourself today? (whether related or non-related to meditation)

Talking with an old classmate (from 10 yrs ago) made me realize that I still have under-confidence issues related to this time, when I actually look / feel confident nowadays. Need to work on this!

An eye for an eye only ends up making the world blind. (Gandhi)
http://matsallehrempit.wordpress.com

I meditated for 27 minutes today. I began with a verse from the Scriptures and then let the meditation take its own course. I realize that I have a lot to learn about meditation and I hope to continue this habit even after our 21 days are through.

8 minutes in my dad's car and 5 minutes at home

Did 10 minutes today!

Day 8.

sending y'all good energy! I am just happy.

Meditated on my own for 9 mins!

I only use a soothing music! I sat on my chair, feet flat on the floor. hands on my lap.
This will be the first time I have not use a guided meditation. I only use a soothing music. These kind of music makes me calm. I learned that sometimes, especially when your just beginning to meditate, it'll be hard, and or distracting.
But never ever give up.
yaay!

I love it when I feel calm and light. aware and alive!

Just finished meditating I did a 15 min meditation with piano music.

Hello!

Today I meditated for 42 minutes.

No details or journal post yet... busy Saturday! Time to hit the night. ^^

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Did 20 min of meditation. Got a bit distracted by the kid in the house but managed to follow through my meditation.
More details in my journal will come tomorrow once I get back home and can give it more time.

Meditated for about 13 minutes - Emotional Ease.
Fell asleep towards the end, always a nice way to start a short nap
Details in log of today and the past 2 days will follow tomorrow!

Yes and it was unusual - since a couple days back (Thursday to be exact) I find myself meditating when I have time to be still. So, I put on music and just breathed in some random places (shower, car rides, waiting on people).

Today, I did 20 minutes total and I've learned that one can be still and active at the same time

DAY 8:

1.Were you able to complete your meditation practice today? Why/Why not?
-I started my meditation, but I did not complete the meditation because I fell asleep during it. I am adjusting to some medication that makes me very sleepy during the day, so that's it's an extra challenge to close my eyes and keep myself awake.

2.If yes, how did your meditation go? What meditation did you do? Where did you meditate? How long did you meditate for?
-It started out great. I chose a 25 minute guided meditation by Tom Kenyon, lying down in my bed, but I fell asleep after about 10 minutes.

3.Anything you want to share about the meditation itself?
-I chose a time of day when I am usually at my lowest energy level, so next time I know NOT to try to meditate during that time of day.

4.Anything you have learned for yourself today? (whether related or non-related to meditation)
-I really need to watch my energy levels carefully and plan my activities accordingly.