Every year I give myself a mantra.

Something to bring in, or let go of, in my life. For years I kept using the same mantra because it was something that I could never fully encompass—I am enough.

Those three words just made me see the daily struggle, whether it was not feeling like I was enough for my husband, my family, my coworkers, but most importantly—myself.

Learning to love yourself is a big task.

Sadly, within our society, we are not encouraged to love ourselves. We are encouraged to seek out alterations to our body —plastic surgery, diets, intense workouts; our face—make-up, plastic surgery, contouring. We are taken with having the nicest clothes/accessories/cars/phones.

With all of these, you can finally love yourself.

Sensing the sarcasm? Well I was one of those people.

I never felt like I was enough. I never felt that I had enough—I always wanted more.

I sure as hell never felt like I did enough—always working a few jobs and helping where I could with everyone I could—but I never felt like I was enough in this consumeristic money-hungry world.

Then I woke up one day and no longer cared about what my hair looked like, if I shaved, if my car was dirty. “Oh sh*t my underwear has no elastic in it.”

I wore the same outfits the week before—I just didn’t care anymore. I no longer cared because instead of spending that time dwelling on what I was without, I was relishing the innumerable ways in which I was blessed.

This is how I woke up to the fact that I am enough:

My mantra.

I meditated whenever I had a free moment with a mala. I would carve out some time to sit down—15 minutes was ideal, practice some Reiki on myself for about five minutes, and then sit in meditative silence for five minutes.

Then I practiced Japa meditation (repeating my mantra with each bead) until I had gone through the entire mala. During the time I spent meditating, I repeatedly told my self that “I am enough, I have enough, I do enough,” and I truly began to believe it.

Because I believed it—I manifested it into existence.

I knew that I was enough for my husband.

I was enough for my family.

I was enough for my co-workers.

And I sure as hell was enough for myself!

If you are interested in starting your own Japa meditation, you can follow these simple steps:

1. Choose your mantra or set your intention. What calls to your soul? This could possibly be the most difficult part of a Japa meditation practice.
2. Find a comfortable seat and sit with the hips open, spine straight, and little, to no, distractions.
3. Find stillness. Focus on the breath, but do not control it.
4. Eyes may be open or closed—whatever works for you.
5. If you are using a mala, you will use each bead to repeat your mantra. There are 108, plus the guru bead that tells you you have completed the 108th.
6. There are many different ways to go around the mala, Here is a great video!
7. After you have completed your meditation—sit in silence to soak in the mantra and the energy you just created.
8. Enjoy a new view on life.

~

Author: Hannah Hutcheson

Image:  Brittany White Photography

Editor: Lieselle Davidson