Post: #1

Hello fellow meditators!

My name is Carmel and I'm British and am a teacher working in London. I am quite a stressed person by nature who has a very "busy brain" - I never ever switch off! I first found out about the effects of meditation about 3 years ago when I suffered from depression for the majority of my undergraduate degree - I downloaded some guided meditation podcasts and they enabled me to switch off during study breaks and shut my brain down when I wanted to go to sleep (there is a 10 minute one especially designed as a work/study break!) I then returned to it again last year as I started my first year in teaching, listening to podcasts in bed was the only way to send me to sleep as my brain was whirring with thoughts of teaching. I find it addictive in its ability to calm my thoughts and give me a bit of headspace, and breathing space but I oddly find it hard to fit into my life as a routine.

I hope to find a way to ensure I medidate, even for a little bit, as part of my everyday routine as I have no doubt to its benefits. I am very stressed, angry and frustrated at work and I truely believe meditation will help calm the storm inside me at the moment. I also hope meditation will stop me dreaming about teaching and marking - I woke up today realising I'de just been dreaming about my trip to work marking books, depressing!

For those of you who haven't really tried it - good luck! It's not some magic thing that works instantly but what I will say is if you're a novice don't try and go in straight to silent meditation for a long time, the guided stuff really works (itunes has loads of free ones and there are free apps on the iphone)

Good luck!

Post: #2

Hey Wiggins, welcome to 21DMC! It's great that you have some experience with meditation - they help you set the tone on what to do/expect in your 21 days ahead. Feel free to use whatever meditation style/method you like (be it guided meditation or not) for your 21DMC meditation!

PS: Great to see someone from London here!

"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

Post: #3

Any recommendations on podcasts to listen to? I'm very interested in trying some. Good luck on your 21DMC meditation!

- Bryan
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"One fails to see life as it is because one tends so much to build up one's own version of it."
-Chögyam Trungpa

Post: #4

Hi Bryan, please refer to the 21DMC Official Announcements thread where I'm compiling free guided meditation resources. You'll find free meditation audio tracks there.

"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

Post: #5

Hi Carmel! I was wondering if you had any recommendations on meditation apps? Any of them work better than others?
Thanks and Good Luck on your meditation adventure!