Hello and welcome.
I'm Skylar Liberty-Rose.
I'm a coach and a pro-aging advocate and I help women in their 40s,
50s and beyond feel better about the aging process.
Today I'm going to be sharing with you 4 ways that guided meditation can help you embrace aging.
You might be a seasoned meditator or perhaps you're completely new to the practice.
Either way I think you'll find value in this share and it may illuminate a different approach to aging that you might not have considered before.
I'm going to start with a short story that goes back a few years to when I spent 6 months travelling in India.
I was moving from place to place and volunteering as I went but I was also exploring my own spiritual journey.
I was tired of all the mental baggage that I'd been carrying around for far too long.
I wanted peace of mind and self acceptance.
I was staying in beautiful McLeod Ganj which is a quiet and very quaint spot nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas.
I'd already attended a few meditation sessions that I felt pretty optimistic about beforehand but nothing seemed to be giving me the sense of peace that I craved.
A woman I got talking to in a cafe mentioned a meditation morning taking place at a centre deep in the mountains and I decided I'd give it a go.
Along with a group of other enlightenment seekers I found myself sitting on the floor of a stunning light drenched sanctuary with incense burning and good energy flowing.
I had a feeling that something wonderful was about to happen.
That during this morning of exploration and contemplation I'd experience a profound inner shift.
Our very serene teacher was everything you'd imagine an expert meditator to be.
He exuded an effortless sense of calm and nothing seemed to ruffle him.
He was the kind of person I secretly wanted to be but definitely wasn't.
So there in that most tranquil of places I closed my eyes,
I sat in my lopsided version of lotus position and I waited for the magic to happen.
After half an hour I snapped my eyes open.
The silent room around me was full of people looking as serene as our teacher.
Apparently I was the only one thinking about lunch and wondering why meditation sessions always had to be scheduled so horribly early.
My mind was far from empty.
I was hungry and I wanted a nap.
It took me many more months,
Years in fact,
To realize that for me inner peace and acceptance weren't going to come from a place of silence.
They would come from a place of guidance.
When I discovered guided meditations it was such a relief because I was instantly able to relax into the experience knowing that even if my mind wandered I'd be gently steered back to a focal point by my teacher.
I didn't have to worry about whether I was getting it right.
I simply had to follow along and feel the benefit.
When I became a meditation teacher myself I knew that I wanted to offer guided sessions because I'd experienced firsthand how transformative they could be.
Something I noticed was that most people don't want to empty their minds as much as they want to nurture their spirit and that doesn't have to mean struggling alone and it doesn't have to be in silence.
As I've aged my meditation practice has become even more important to me.
It offers It offers me a space of steadiness and support at a time when so much is changing and uncertain.
While it's true that making my peace with aging has come from a place of education and awareness about the impact of a culture of anti-aging,
It's also been bolstered by being in the present moment as much as possible.
Something that meditation helps hugely with.
As a teacher I've seen students have beautiful breakthroughs from listening to my guided practices and finding ways to cultivate a positive relationship with their own aging journey.
Here are four ways that guided meditation can help you embrace aging.
Number one,
Cultivating self-acceptance.
Guided meditation provides a space for reflection and self-acceptance.
During guided sessions you're encouraged to acknowledge your thoughts and feelings about aging without judgment.
This mindful awareness helps to separate your true identity from societal expectations and negative stereotypes associated with growing older.
By fostering a compassionate dialogue with yourself you learn to appreciate the wisdom,
Experience and growth that come with age.
Number two,
Reducing anxiety and stress.
Aging can bring about anxiety and fear regarding changes in health,
Appearance or capabilities.
Guided meditation promotes relaxation and mindfulness,
Allowing you to focus on the present moment rather than future uncertainties.
Through guidance in meditation you equip yourself with coping mechanisms to mitigate stress.
This in turn can ease the worries tied to aging,
Enabling you to face each new chapter with clarity and result.
Number three,
Shifting perspectives.
One of the most significant shifts guided meditation brings is a change in perspective.
Many guided meditations focus on gratitude and appreciation for life experiences.
By recognizing the lessons learned and the beauty in aging you can transform your outlook.
A guided practice encourages you to celebrate milestones instead of lamenting them,
Embracing the richness of life as you navigate midlife and beyond.
Number four,
Enhancing mindfulness.
Mindfulness is a key component of emotional well-being,
Especially in the context of aging.
Guided meditation teaches you to be present,
Helping you savor everyday moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed.
By developing this skill you can become more attuned to your body's needs and changes,
Allowing for a deeper connection to yourself.
Remember,
There's no one right way to age and there's no one right way to meditate.
We're all just figuring this life out as best we can,
But getting support along the way makes all the difference.
I hope this was helpful for you and that you're able to see a clearer link between having someone to guide you through a meditation practice and help you to focus on your aging experience in what is likely a completely different light and from a different angle.
If you'd like more support and guidance on your aging journey then I highly recommend taking a look at the meditations I have here on Insight Timer as well as my courses.
Aging Courageously and Visible are great places to start.
They've helped thousands of women feel better about the aging process and I've had incredible feedback from participants.
I'd love you to be one of them and I love hearing from you,
So please feel free to comment if you found this share useful.
Thank you so much for joining me today.
I'm sending love and gratitude from my heart to yours.
