The Art of Meditation is Being Spacious

Meditation. It’s one of those words that makes you think of monks on mountaintops or people sitting cross-legged in a room full of incense. But let’s be honest, most of us are just trying to find a bit of peace in between the chaos of everyday life.

And then you come across this quote: “The art of meditation is being spacious.” What does that even mean? Spacious? Are we talking about real estate now?

Well, let’s break it down. Meditation is often seen as this mystical, almost unattainable practice. But at its core, it’s about creating space. Not the kind of space where you can park your car, but mental space. It’s about giving your mind a bit of room to breathe, to stretch out, and to just be.

Imagine your mind is like a cluttered attic. It’s full of old memories, worries about the future, and that annoying song you can’t get out of your head. Meditation is like opening a window in that attic. It lets in some fresh air, clears out the cobwebs, and gives you a bit of perspective. Suddenly, things don’t seem so cramped and overwhelming.

Now, being spacious doesn’t mean you have to sit in silence for hours on end. You don’t need to chant or wear flowing robes (unless that’s your thing, in which case, go for it). It’s about finding moments in your day where you can just be. It could be while you’re having your morning coffee, taking a walk, or even just sitting on the loo. Yes, I said it. The loo. It’s probably the only place where you get a bit of peace and quiet anyway.

The trick is to not force it. You can’t make yourself be spacious any more than you can make yourself fall asleep. It’s about letting go of the need to control everything and just allowing yourself to be present. Easier said than done, right? But that’s the beauty of it. It’s a practice. You don’t have to get it right every time. In fact, you probably won’t. And that’s okay.

Think of it like this: your mind is like a snow globe. When you’re stressed or anxious, it’s like someone has shaken it up, and all the little snowflakes are swirling around like mad. Meditation is about letting those snowflakes settle. It’s about finding that stillness where everything becomes clear. And in that stillness, you find space. Space to think, space to breathe, space to just be.

So, next time you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, remember the art of meditation is being spacious. Give yourself permission to take a step back, to open that window in your mind, and to let in a bit of fresh air. You might be surprised at how much room you actually have up there.

And if all else fails, just remember: even a few moments of peace can make a world of difference. So, go on, give it a try. You might just find that being spacious is exactly what you need.