The Power of Meditation

By Kate Feinberg Robins

This one is for all of you out there who are getting your small businesses off the ground, keeping them going and growing, and trying to stay centered in the process. It's for those who are raising your kids, working your jobs, going to school, pursuing your dreams, and feeling overwhelmed by it all.

The past few months have been a whirlwind for us. We started renting our studio space in November, and spent the holiday season painting, renovating, learning to do bookkeeping, and finalizing our course catalog. On January 15, we worked from 4am to midnight installing our dance floor so we could teach our first classes the next day. Needless to say, there were countless moments of exhaustion, doubt, and frustration. 

When it all seems overwhelming, when there's too much to do, when we feel defeated--those are the moments when it's most important to pause, sit, and meditate. It's this daily practice of meditation that gives us the confidence and the energy to keep pushing through. It helps us to remember why we're doing this, to center ourselves, and sometimes just to observe that we're not centered and why.

There are many kinds of meditation and I think the best kind is the kind that works for you. DeShawn and I approach it in different ways, but the important thing is that we help each other remember to do it every day--especially on the days when it seems like we have the least time.

The guidance that I've found most useful comes from Jack Kornfield's book Meditation for Beginners, where he guides you through simple Vipassana, or Mindfulness, meditations. Like many people, I've always had trouble with the idea of clearing my mind. I also struggle with guided meditations that are filled with instructions. What I like about Mindfulness Meditation is that instead of trying to clear everything out of your mind, or put something else in your mind, you focus on observing what's already there. Instead of judging yourself for feeling angry or distracted or disappointed, you observe and acknowledge how you feel. If your mind wanders, you bring it back without judgment. 

You can find Jack Kornfield's Meditation for Beginners at jackkornfield.com/meditation-beginners/ and browse his website for more resources.

Whatever your project is, whatever your dreams, whatever your state of mind, we've found meditation to be a powerful tool in bringing us to the next level and moving forward with confidence. We hope that you will too.

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