L&C

Meditation is not what we do, it’s what we are. 

This unique way of approaching meditation releases us from the mat, cushion, or chair. 

Assuming the statement is true allows us to bring our full breath and body to everyday tasks.

Doing dishes we now feel a greater connection to the way our shoulder joints move when we scrub a pan, or we’re more aware of the interplay of our leg and arm muscles when flipping that pan over to dry.

Walking up stairs we notice the pressure on our feet and back and how our breath becomes shallower. We’re not doing anything, we’re simply following our movement and just by doing so, we may slow down, or adjust our posture, or feel more of a connection to the ground. 

On a call, we become aware when our breath quickens or when our chest contracts or neck aches. Does this mean anything? Perhaps, perhaps not. But we’re more connected to ourselves as we connect to others. As we listen, we also listen to ourselves. The outcome is simply a deeper experience of the moment and what that means depends on your personality and circumstance.

You’re just more fully there.

This isn’t about feeling good or entering into a peaceful state. You’re also fully aware when you disengage, avoid, or resist. When you want to control, roll your eyes, or become apathetic.

Multitasking meditation is just that – being with everything – and that can be a lot at first because the bad comes with the good, as you perceive it.

And that’s the unique quality of this practical approach to meditation. You become clear about your perceptions, assumptions, judgments, and interpretations. 

Jon Kabbat-Zinn popularized the definition of mindfulness as “present moment awareness without judgment”. In the beginning it’s more like “present moment awareness about all your judgments”. Lol.

You can’t get away from yourself. What if you got closer? Became more fully everywhere? Became meditation?

Instead of logic-ing this out in your head, try multitasking meditation when walking, talking, listening, browsing, doomscrolling, and see for yourself.