Meditation Monday: Creating Good "Car"ma

Welcome to another edition of Meditation Monday!

Regardless of whether you are religious or spiritual (or both or neither), science has proven that meditation actually changes brain waves; decreasing beta-wave activity for example. This quieter, more focused state can have many benefits from basic relaxation to curing illness.

When I think about the overall goal of "taking care of myself," mental peace and emotional balance are critical components. Meditation is a great way to achieve both of those things.

Some of you may be thinking that meditation can only be done when you have time to light up the incense, get out your Buddha statue, open up and say, “OHM."

However, it really can be incorporated into our daily routine. Yes, even when life is so hectic we find ourselves saying really annoying things like,  “I’m so busy sometimes, I completely forget to eat.” Or my personal favorite, “My day was so crazy, I barely had time to pee!” 

Ultimately, we really should believe that taking care of ourselves is not only absolutely vital, but that we do have the time to do it.  That no matter what is going on in our lives, we have all the time in the world to meditate, to exercise, eat better, laugh more and yes, even urinate whenever the need arises. 

But let’s say you’re not there yet. Put on your Depends Undergarment and keep reading. 

What’s something you do everyday? Maybe even something that you don’t love doing?

For me, it’s driving. 

Someone once told me about “walking meditation.” So, I figured I'd try “driving meditation.”  Given my 100 mile round-trip (in rush hour) work commute I figured I'd better find my happy place in the car.  If not for audiobooks and driving meditation, I surely would have taken a hostage by now. 

Okay, so....  

Driving Meditation 101:

Seatbelt on, radio and/or mobile Facebook off, eyes open of course.  Special note to include simultaneous attention to the actual act of driving, not hitting things, etc. 

If anything, this should help.  

Because my mind is usually racing with thoughts of the day, I find it helpful to start with basic square breathing which I've described before.  

Breathe in for four slow counts (1...2….3….4). Hold the breath for four slow counts (1...2….3….4). Breathe out for four slow counts (1...2….3….4). Hold for four slow counts(1...2….3….4).  Do this a few times until the mental gears stop grinding.

If I can’t stop myself from breathing or counting too quickly, I count to eight.  Hyperventilating while driving is especially not recommended.  

In a calm state, I start looking around, quietly noticing what’s happening around me, focusing on this moment only. I run through an inventory of everything I see and hear.  I focus on making my driving experience an opportunity to be present, aware and thankful. 

(Keeping breathing.) 

Focusing way off into the distance and gradually moving closer, I really see and appreciate the view. The wispy clouds, the amazing Boston skyline, the trees, the cars, even leftover auto parts on the side of the road.  

I consciously observe everything I can about each thing and note something I am thankful for related to that thing.

      "Thank you for this peaceful, accident-free drive."

                                                 “Thank you for the opportunity to work in such a great city."

                   "The trees are so beautiful, thank you."
  "I love that I have a job to go to when so many people do not; thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Then I listen. When I was a kid, I remember listening to classical music and trying to pick out each instrument one at a time, isolating it and hearing one pure sound apart from the others. I do this sort of thing often during mindful meditation. 

When practicing driving mediation,  I separate each sound from the others, one by one… the wind, each of my own car noises, an airplane above, a truck going by, a distant horn or siren. I hear and appreciate each sound. I take it all in, mentally “tipping my hat” at each auditory awareness.  

Again, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” 

Alone in the car with nothing else on the “to do list” but get somewhere, is a perfect opportunity to quiet the cacophony of regular thought, be truly aware of the “now” and feel the gratitude for my life.  

You can do this for three minutes or three hours. Even just a couple of minutes of calming your mind and focusing on the present moment in a mindful way can do wonders. It's comforting to know that I know that I can do this exercise at any point in time, doing (almost) any activity. See and hear what's around me, in the present moment, consciously being aware and appreciative. 

Here’s another tip. It’s not meditation per se, but talking about driving made me think of it:
SMILE when you drive.

Making it a point to be a consciously content driver is a great exercise in remaining peaceful no matter what is happening in the external world.  One of the things I notice a lot when I'm driving with awareness is that other drivers usually look pretty freakin' miserable. So when I get in the car, I make it a real habit to give the zygomaticus muscles a workout.    

My dad taught me the "happy driver" lesson. He was a fun guy to drive with, despite being a little like Mr. Magoo.   My sister would say it was more terrifying than fun, but this is my story. He sort of did the mindful driver thing too.  Always making note of all the details, reading every sign aloud even when we weren't looking for anything, remarking on how something was especially "cute" or unusual. 

Whenever someone would flip him off or curse at him or otherwise display annoyance, my dad would simply smile back at them. A nice big, friendly smile. Sometimes he would blow kisses. I learned early on that if you mouth the words, “Olive Juice,” it looks like “I love you” to the person in the next car. 

You'll have to let me know if you'ever done anything similar to what I've described above re: driving meditation... or what you think when you do try it.  

Until then, “Olive Juice.”

Charlene