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This week: I meditate daily, and it helps.
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#2 - When in doubt, meditate.


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I'm no stranger to meditation. My first exposure to the practice of meditating (and it is a practice) was about seven or eight years ago at a meditation workshop held in a local yoga studio.

I've dealt and with anxiety, depression, stress, over-reacting, and more over the years, and I heard meditating could help with these. The workshop did spark an interest in meditation, and I left the workshop feeling amazing (for a little while).

I didn't stick with the practice though, and only seriously picked it up again within the past couple years or so. I can meditate by myself, eyes closed, no problem, but I do enjoy guided meditation. Guided meditation, as the name implies, is when someone speaks to you while you meditate, saying which parts of your body to focus on, how to breath, or even give you affirmations to repeat in your mind.

Meditating does work, for me at least. I notice a big difference when I keep up the daily practice (sometimes even twice, or more, a day) and likewise, I notice when I don't meditate for a few days in a row.

These days, I regularly use the Calm app on my phone when meditating. In fact, I rarely meditate without it.

calm app
The Calm app offers a variety of guided meditations, ranging from positivity to motivation to quelling anxiety. The app is free at first, and comes with a bunch of free meditations, but I paid the $40 yearly subscription to gain access to everything.

Calm's centerpiece is its 21 Days of Calm, a 21-part guided meditation series about mindfulness. I'm on day four, which I just finished before writing this newsletter. (note: you can try 7 Days of Calm for free when you first download the app)

Because everything is better with Star Wars, there's a very Jedi thing to Calm's mindfulness meditations: it's about not reacting. Emotions, sounds, and sensations—ignoring them (or rather, ignoring your knee-jerk instinct to react with emotion). In Star Wars, there are many references to be mindful of your feelings or emotions betraying a character (being angry never leads to good things for me).

This is something I am working on: being mindful, and not reacting. I have a long way to go, but I notice improvements, bit by bit.

In Star Wars, the Jedi are all about being calm and not giving into their emotions. The Jedi's opposites, the Sith, use emotions (mainly anger and hatred) as a power source, but with consequences (they are never at peace, for example).

I'm hardly a calm, peaceful Jedi, but I'm making the effort. When I'm calm (especially after completing a meditation practice) I'm focused and motivated, which is good in my creative life as well as my personal life.

- Daniel

 

Clattertron Updates

no filter fox in court

This Week's Comic

In this week's comic, No Filter Fox tries to defend himself in court. Bad idea.
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Blog Updates

On the blog,I returned to the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (SPACE) this weekend. I'm still there today (Sunday) if you are in Columbus, Ohio.

Comic Rewind


A year ago: Guilt Trip Ghost Takes the Field - A comic about soccer. Or whatever that non-hockey game with a ball is called.

Blog Rewind


A year ago: Microsoft Surface Pro 3: A Portable Drawing Powerhouse - Back when I was looking at different drawing tablets. Time flies!
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Rags helping put away laundry. I need those shorts, buddy.
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Ramblings and thoughts on cartooning, writing, running websites, attending conventions, and the creative life, with website updates and occasional cat photos. You probably found out about this on clattertron.com, maybe even my Twitter or Facebook.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel J. Hogan, All rights reserved.



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