Our Mindful Nature: Meditations Inspired by Nature to Soothe the Overwhelmed Mind and Ease Anxiety

One of my intentions for 2022 is to truly pay attention to and foster community both in my work and my personal life. This is a value I hold so dear, and I’ve felt the impact of the last 2.5 years as it has asked us all to reimagine community connection.

I’ve recently introduced a monthly community discussion class in my live Monday night meditation class as one way to foster this sense of connection, and I thought, even though you won’t get to hear the actual community chatter in this episode {I’ve kept that private to maintain safe, sacred space within my live class}, it is valuable to hear my thoughts on why community matters so much to us as meditators.

You’ll hear some short thoughts from me, and we will share in a 20-minute guided meditation as usual. Please know, if you are searching for your own meditation community - you are, of course, welcome to join my live classes if the timing works for you, but you could also join my free meditation community here: https://meditate-with-meryl.mn.co/

If you join, please feel encouraged to post! Share your questions, ideas, wins, and wonderings! Discussion is how online community begins to build, and I would love to hear from you.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation to support the growth of this labor of love. Your monthly donation will aid in keeping this show sponsor-free, employing additional small businesses AND funding the ongoing creative growth I invest in.

Donate here: https://www.merylarnett.com/support-the-mindful-minute

Join my FREE meditation community here: https://meditate-with-meryl.mn.co/

Special thanks to today’s sponsor: Baronfig - Baronfig’s line of “Tools for Thinkers” includes guided journals, notebooks, writing instruments, bags, accessories, and so much more. As an avid journaler, I use and love their guided meditation journal, dream journal and their basic Confidant notebooks! Get one for yourself at baronfig.com

Learn more about my:

*Elemental Awakening: Begins March 20, 2022

*Roots: nature-based meditation app

*Live, virtual meditation classes with me

*Upcoming events

All by visiting merylarnett.com.

#meditatewithmeryl

Mini Meditation: Elemental Awakening to Fire

In today’s mini meditation, I’m sharing another elemental practice with you in celebration of my upcoming program Elemental Awakening!

We have explored two different wind-based practices recently and now we will revisit an old favorite - fire. Today’s meditation is one of my original offerings in Roots - my nature-based meditation app. In this practice, you hear the embers of a campfire crackling as it burns in Little Yosemite Valley. This soundscape was recorded by Gordon Hempton and the meditation was written from my direct experience of sitting in front of decades worth of campfires.

Don’t forget registration for Elemental Awakening closes TOMORROW, March 15 at Midnight. There are just a few spots left and I would love for YOU to join me in this intimate exploration of the elements, ourselves, and our relationship to mindfulness.

Special thanks to today’s sponsor:

Baronfig - Baronfig’s line of “Tools for Thinkers” includes guided journals, notebooks, writing instruments, bags, accessories, and so much more. As an avid journaler, I use and love their guided meditation journal, dream journal and their basic Confidant notebooks! Get one for yourself here: https://baronfig.com/

These mini meditations are meant to support a daily home practice. Tune in every Monday to find your practice for the week! Full episodes are released every Thursday for a longer, deeper practice.

Join my FREE meditation community here: https://meditate-with-meryl.mn.co/

Learn more about my:

*Elemental Awakening: Begins March 20, 2022

*Roots: nature-based meditation app

*Live, virtual meditation classes with me

*Upcoming events

All by visiting merylarnett.com.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation to support the growth of this labor of love. Your monthly donation will aid in keeping this show sponsor-free, employing additional small businesses AND funding the ongoing creative growth I invest in.

Donate here: https://www.merylarnett.com/support-the-mindful-minute

#meditatewithmeryl

Worry is such an interesting paradox isn’t it? It feels truly terrible when we are in the throes of it. Our bodies, our hearts, and minds can feel overwhelmed or suffocated by worry. And yet, worry only happens because we care deeply about someone or something; it feels like something that we must accept as an unavoidable experience in life.

Our meditation practice can offer an alternative to this seemingly unavoidable paradox. Certainly with deep, sustained practice we might arrive in a place where we are able to be equanimous in all moments and unphased by the seemingly stressful or worrisome moments in life, but what about right now? What about those of us that are meditating but still get swept up in worry or fear?

Let’s start with rule number one: stop saying “Don’t Worry.”

Seriously. Does that phrase even mean anything? Does it do anything for the person worrying? If you could just stop, wouldn’t you have already done so?

Trying to ignore worry only makes it worse. When we ignore what we are feeling, it is simply lurking underneath all our thoughts and actions, very likely flaring up in displays of anxiety or anger instead.

That underlying worry, and overt anxiety/anger, can lead to unhealthy numbing behaviors like TV binging or addictive shopping, eating, drinking, drug use, etc.

So, let’s just let go of the “don’t worry” adage, and instead, what if we brave up, admit what we are actually feeling, and face it head on?

Worry has its roots in fear, and that overwhelming, suffocating feeling often comes from trying to ignore what it is we fear most in a particular situation... So our first step in moments of worry is to create and nurture a sense of safety for ourselves.

Join me for today’s talk and guided meditation designed to nurture a sense of safety within moments of worry.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation to support the growth of this labor of love. Your monthly donation will aid in keeping this show sponsor-free, employing additional small businesses AND funding the ongoing creative growth I invest in.

Donate here: https://www.merylarnett.com/support-the-mindful-minute

You can learn more about my:

*Shoreline: my new meditation app

*Live, virtual meditation classes with me

*Upcoming events

All by visiting merylarnett.com.

You can also grab my FREE Meditation Starter Kit on my website merylarnett.com. It is full of my favorite tips, stories and ideas for starting and maintaining a daily meditation practice. Grab your copy today! --> http://bit.ly/meditationstarterkit ***

Connect with me on Instagram {@merylarnett} to get bonus meditation tips, mini-meditations, and the occasional baby spam: https://www.instagram.com/merylarnett/

#meditatewithmeryl