my meditation journey
i first started meditation nearly seven years ago. I love meditating now, but experiencing Dhyana didn’t come naturally.
At first, I was bored. Or, I would fall asleep. And, I felt like… I didn't feel any different. But a small voice within encouraged me to keep trying, and I did — seemingly without success. Then, one summer when I took a “Personal Brain Management” course at the Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Our class was tasked with designing a personal experiment to alter a personal habit. It was the perfect opportunity to put my meditation ambitions to the test.
My goal was to meditate daily for four weeks. Each day I would score my mood for individual emotions and traits, such as calmness, happiness, and strength. These acted as levers to measure the impact of my meditation practice on my wellbeing. Each day, I recorded my practice (or lack of) and rated my moods on a scale from 1 (unsatisfied) to 7 (satisfied).
During my first two weeks, I meditated six out of ten days and my mood was more poo than woo!. The following two weeks, I kept up my daily practice, and my moods were also improving. My results made a lasting impression. I felt a subtle lightness and growing joy with daily practice. A seed of curiosity was planted within me, igniting my passion for meditation.
My personal brain management log, tracking my daily meditation efforts and moods.
Embodying Dhyana Daily
In the beginning, I resisted because I was uncomfortable slowing down, sitting still, and keeping silent. At that time in my life, I was constantly on the go with a stacked schedule balancing working and graduate school. I constantly listened to music or YouTubers streaming about politics, curly hair, and environmental activism. I was consuming more than I was creating, and I was addicted to the noise.
Breaking out of that cycle wasn’t easy and it took a serious commitment to crack the spell. In 2019 my mother left this earthly realm, and I turned to my practice for strength and solace. My intention was to sit daily for a minimum of thirty days. Rather, I sustained my daily practice for more the seventy days, from April through July.
It’s been almost three years since I started meditating daily. This past year has been particularly challenging — my consistency has wavered, however, I’m still deepening my practice and expanding my knowledge. I practice Kriya yoga regularly, join sanghas for spiritual fellowship, and I began studying the philosophy and foundations of the Yogic and Buddhist paths.
With daily dhyana, I feel more peaceful, more confident, and more aligned with my authentic self and personal path. I’m delighted to share my experience and guidance; I hope my knowledge empowers your journey to Dhyana.
