Stressed out? We hear ya!
There can be moments in wedding planning when it all feels like a little bit too much. But before you take back those save the dates, we've brought in the professionals to help you find spaces of calm in all the chaos.
Last month we introduced you to the wonderful Lucie Lincoln, a writer, meditator, newlywed, and our new resident guru on finding peace in your wedding planning.
In her first post she schooled us in the basics of meditation, and this time, Lucie is sharing her skills for de-stressing in moments where sitting on the floor with your legs crossed simply won't do.
Take it away Lucie…
Photo by Terra Rothman Photography via Bridal Musings
Find Peace in the Planning: A Beginner's Guide to Meditation Part Two
Welcome back to your wedding planning meditation guide, the perfect way to stay relaxed as you plan your wedding. In my last post I introduced you to the benefits of meditation, why you should meditate and a basic seated meditation practice.
As I said last time, there are so many different ways to use meditation to make a big difference to your wedding planning experience. So I wanted to give you some more practices you can use to find peace in the planning.
Meditation is a great tool to help you relax, check in with yourself, find answers to your problems and to create space for more peace and more joy. Sounds good right?
So here goes, two common wedding planning potential stresses and how to use mediation to find peace instead.
Dress Fittings
Photo by Vicki Bartel Photography via Bridal Musings
Now, let's be honest, sometimes finding the ideal dress can be filled with stress and pressure. It is a wonderful experience and can be so much fun. I loved trotting in and out of dressing rooms to show off potential dresses to my mum and sister.
But as the process goes on, it can start to feel less and less relaxed, and more scary, as you wonder, Will I find a dress I love at a price I can afford? Will it be the right dress? What will my partner think? What will my friends think?
Some of us are lucky and find a dress and know it's the one pretty instantly, but what if you don't? Well this is a perfect excuse to use meditation to feel calm and get some clarity.
Photo by Ashley Ludaescher Photography via Bridal Musings
As sitting down to meditate in a dress room probably isn't going to happen, this is the perfect time for moment meditation.
– Simply close your eyes and count each breath in and out until you reach 16.
– Concentrate on long slow breathing and just for a moment, feel connected into the deep routed wisdom you have.
– After you have finished your breathing keep your eyes closed and smile. Feel the smile, feel the ease in your body and tell yourself you will find the the right dress, you will know when you find it, and more than that you will enjoy the journey.
– Then keep your smile and open your eyes.
Hopefully these few moments will just recalibrate your system and give you some clarity. You will know what to do next, so trust that feeling and try and keep the smile.
You can use this as many times as you need to to feel calm and connected as you go through the process.
You can also end this meditation by asking yourself if the dress you are currently in is the dress, listen to your gut when it comes to this, it is surprisingly accurate.
A Difference of Opinion
Photo by Lauren Fair Photography via Bridal Musings
At some point in your wedding planning journey you will likely reach a point when someone else's view on who should be invited, what people should wear, what readings you have, or what flowers you pick, differ from your own.
It's always tricky to deal with other peoples desires, and when you are wedding planning everyone seems to have an opinion.
Sometimes it will be easy to know the right thing to do and you can feel pretty comfortable and confident in asserting that you and your partner's wishes are final. But sometimes it is more complex that that.
So if you feel like you are walking on eggshells and don't know what to do, it is time to use meditation to help you check in, create space and problem solve.
Photo by This Love of Yours via Bridal Musings
If you are in this situation, try to take a step away and go for a walking meditation.
– Start your walk by just asking yourself “What is the right thing to do, for me, my partner and the people I love?” Then let the question go and concentrate on your walk.
– Pay attention to your body moving, your breath moving in and out, the colour of the sky, the feel of the wind on your hands and face, is it hot? Cold? What can you hear? What can you see? How does your body feel?
– Pay real attention to where you are and the sensations in your body. Try to keep your breathing slow and relaxed and stay present. This is about getting out of your head and into the world.
– Before you get back to your house. Find somewhere to rest for a second and close your eyes. Ask yourself the question again.
– Sit for a moment and listen, see what comes up. More often than not, your gut can give you a surprisingly clear answer. If you don't get one right away, trust that one is coming, that you have just created space for it to move into and the answer is on its way.
– Put a smile on your face and imagine it all working out perfectly then head home leaving your anxiety outside.
Both of these methods of meditation can be great ways to find some peace on the go. Hopefully they show you that meditation isn't about a strict set of rules, but about finding ways to sneak moments of peace and presence into your normal life.
Next time I'm going to cover one final meditation for you to use on your wedding morning and a few hints and tips about how to take meditation forward and allow it to enrich your married life.
Photo by Francesco De Tito via Bridal Musings
I love these, especially the dress fitting one, I feel like that could be used in so many everyday situations!
Don't forget to share your own stress-busting tips in the comments below, and read part one of Lucie's meditation guide here.
Thanks so much to Lucie Lincoln for sharing her wonderful meditation tips. Be sure to follow Lucie’s regular musings on her blog, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.
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