Meditation for those who can’t settle down

I feel like my mind is spinning of late. And also like there is a buzzing in my ears. I’m worried about a thousand things, I’m trying to be a mom to the family, trying to connect on social media… you get the picture. You’re busy too so I won’t take up too much time whining about MY life.

I know the benefits of meditation would really help me hear, but I can’t focus my mind and I can’t sit still. So I started looking up alternatives to meditation or helpful hints for people like me, who can’t focus or sit still.

1) Flowdreaming. I found Flowdreaming when Hay House Radio first started and had free archives. Summer McStravick who created this technique with her mother, was the producer of Hay House.

Flowdreaming falls under the positive thinking, new age type stuff. Y’know the stuff “The Secret” made popular. I know there are tons of people who skeptical, and I’m not going to say you can just think your way into success, you have to do some legwork. But I don’t think postive thinking hurts. So if you’re not a believer, skip to the next thing.

Flowdreaming is a visualization technique where you connect to the underlying energy that connects everything that is. And you can affect the universe at large with your mind.

I have never practised it with any regularity, so i can’t attest to it working. but it is calming and it does lift my mood when I do engage. You can read more about Flowdreaming on Summer’s website: http://flowdreaming.com She also has a free weekly internet radio show, which I beleive takes caller questions and she usually does a guided flowdream each week.

2) Movement meditation. Like tai chi or some simple repetitive movement. Walking works as well.

3) Meditation with sound. Like white noise or rain or a river flowing. I love the rainfall sounds.

4) Visit an inner healing sanctuary. I once had this book on spiritual healing with crystals and the like, but the one thing that has always stuck with me is the creation of an inner healing sanctuary. It can be a bath tub, whirlpool, the ocean, a waterfall, laying in the sun. The only requirement is that negative energy has some way of leaving your sanctuary. Mine is an island, over the years it’s become quite elaborate.

5) Mantra meditation. You repeat a mantra over over in your head. It can be as simple as one word, love or peace. A sentence that inspires. Or an entire poem, as in the Rosary for Catholics, or The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi are popular ones. Another one is saying the word “Om” or”aum” in a long drawn out way. “Om” according to Hindu tradition, the purest name of God.

6) Craft Meditation. Crocheting or knitting, if the pattern is fairly simple, are extremely meditative. Sewing can also be, especially if you are doing it by hand. Colouring is also very soothing.

Do you meditate? What practice works for you? How did you find the patience to get past the initial discomfort?

Or are you like me? You want to meditate, but you can’t get past the initial discomfort so you give up? Or you just can’t stick with even the most basic practice?