Truthfully, I have felt some disappointment about a few people’s reaction to my honesty regarding what I’ve been through this year. After going through a lot, I noticed a lot of ‘positive gaslighting’ in forms of, ‘don’t worry, things get better’, ‘keep a positive approach’ or, ‘you can do it!’

I know that these phrases mean well; however, I have done the best that I can under these circumstances with the tools that have been given to me. So, hearing what I need to work on when I have poured my heart out, feels like a slap in the face.

I don’t think any of these people mean unwell; I just think that sometimes listening is better than always looking for a remedy. Sometimes, we are so quick to find a solution that we forget about compassion and kindness. There are times when listening is the highest form of love.

As a result of feeling this way, I decided to look within and give myself the credit that I have been looking for outside. Although it would be nice to receive credit from others; if I don’t give it to myself, there is no point in looking to others for it.

Here are 12 things that I want to give myself credit for (in 2019):

1. For leaving a toxic relationship with a healthy body and mind.

2. For getting up everyday.

3. For putting forward effort.

4. For trying to see a silver-lining in most situations.

5. For crying sometimes.

6. For smiling sometimes.

7. For listening to my intuition.

8. For never giving up.

9. For maintaining a healthy body.

10. For my (almost) daily yoga practice.

11. For starting a wellness platform.

12. For reminding myself of what I should be proud of.

What are you giving yourself credit for? Make a list and e-mail it to info@biologiquelife.com to be posted.

Throughout my life, meditation has always been there. You might be thinking, obviously, right? However, what I mean is that, there had always been someone in my life who was trying to get me to meditate.

My aunt used to recommend it to me while I was writing my final exams of high school. So, I tried it. And then never did it again for the next 7 years. Although, I did yoga very consistently, I refrained from meditation. *Yoga and meditation are not the same.Yoga is recommended to be supplemented by it. However, asana (postures) and meditation are separate.

I finally decided to give meditation a go again when I had developed stress knots in my shoulders and jaws from tension. A fellow teacher recommended that it would help ease it.

So, I began. I began with merely 2 minutes a day- which felt so long. However, three years later, my 20 minute morning meditations feel like a breeze.

This is how I developed a solid meditation practice:

1. Patience with my mind.

Meditation teaches you patience. If you can't be patient with your mind, you will get frustrated during your meditation and it will do the opposite affect. Your mind is meant to think, it will have to adjust to meditation so give it time.

2. Find a comfortable position.

Meditation is more difficult when your body is uncomfortable. Many recommend sitting upright; however, I say as long as your back is straight, it's okay. Whether you are lying down or sitting up, a straight spines allows for chakra alignment and optimizes your meditation experience.

3. Start with short meditations.

As I mentioned before, I began with short meditations. This is so that your mind can adapt. Just like with running, your first day of training, you wouldn't run a mile. Meditation is also training, you are training your mind. In order to build a daily meditation, start with a few minutes a day.

4. Use YouTube for meditations.

YouTube is great for finding meditations. I recommend searching YouTube to find meditations that will help you through whatever you are going through. For example, if you are feeling anxious, search Meditations for anxiety.

5. You can always start again tomorrow.

We have a tendency to do our best, which is great; however, when you begin meditation, you might not feel great as you still have to train your mind. You might feel as though you are disrupted a lot and, that is okay. Just know that tomorrow is another day for meditation and you don't have to NOT think about anything else to meditate. It's about bringing your mind back to where you are. Overtime, it will happen naturally. But, BE PATIENT.

12 Things that I want to give myself credit for (in 2019).

5 helpful tips for meditation