Americans have less free time than ever in our history. Busy schedules, constant and instantaneous cyber connectivity, families and commitments affect our peace of mind and inner peace. Studies show that stress-related illnesses are skyrocketing, but the percentage of people describing a happy and comfortable life is declining at rates of free fall.
However, this difficult situation does not have to be your situation. Mediation experts and those who study it have long known that it can help with the recovery and prevention of mental and physical conditions. In fact, our overall health improves tremendously through deep breathing, relaxation, and time to reflect. If all this sounds good to you, maybe when spring comes around you can create an outdoor meditation space that will help you find mindfulness and inner peace at any time of the year.
Distance your meditation space from the center of your home and yard
The distance does not have to be in linear feet. In this context, it means separation. To find real relaxation, you need to get away from the sights, sounds, and smells – yes, smells that trigger your daily stress. The barking dog, the dishes to put in the dishwasher, the ringing smartphone. These are distractions that make up your daily life, but intrude on your moments of meditation. One of the best ways to escape them is in your garden. A pergola or gazebo is a great place to find peace and distance. If winter doesn’t make them feasible, a cabin or house with a pool could provide the right amount of shelter and solitude. Regardless of what space you have or choose, the goal is to create a space where your worries and worries of the day are simply not allowed.
A really cool concept is from ancient Japan and China and is the garden bridge. The symbolism is that when you cross the bridge, you cross to a quiet place. Install a garden bridge, even if you don’t have anything that needs a bridge, to give your mind a barrier that changes your perspective once you walk on it. Another old concept is a kind of zigzag pattern on the catwalk that takes you to your meditation space. The evil spirits of folklore can only travel in a straight line, so they cannot follow you at your serenity. It may seem silly in our modern world, but you don’t have to believe in evil spirits for the concept to work for you. It is no different from how an athlete warms up to stretch his muscles before a game. You need that time to prepare to work and stretch your mind and soul.
Create your connection with nature
Nothing is more peaceful than the sounds, sights, and smells of nature. Your home can be comfortable and cozy, or elegant and impressive and a source of great pride. But it is not nature. Your garden is probably natural, by definition. But if you choose a location for a pergola or gazebo that doesn’t have a lot of lushness, invest in some flowers and plants. Not only do they provide soothing comfort, if you can plant some with your favorite scents, they help you find the inner peace you are looking for. If your space is enclosed, like a cabana or pool house, make sure you have windows to let the outside in. Or, bring bonsai trees and other foliage.
But wait, you say you have a brown thumb, so how are you going to keep all this plant life alive? Well, studies show that a connection with nature brings peaceful thoughts and calms the mind. Do some research and find plants and flowers that even your skill level can tend to.
Water is calming
Sound can be enormously relaxing or incredibly stressful. Car horns, sirens, construction noise. These sounds can irritate your nerves and send you into a nearby anxiety attack. On the other hand, water is incredibly relaxing and can eliminate stress and frustrations. Whether it’s waves splashing in the sand or light rain or a fountain. Incorporate a real water fountain into your meditation space. You don’t have to hire a landscape architect to build you an expensive mini waterfall and babbling stream in your backyard. A simple tabletop fountain might be all that is needed. They are not that expensive and are battery powered or wall powered. Place it close to you so that it covers neighborhood cars or planes overhead.
Don’t go overboard decorating
The calmest meditation spaces are minimal. Clutter, for some people, is itself a stressor. Probably all you need is a comfortable chair or a soft floor cushion, possibly a side table for a sound machine, an incense burner, or meditation bells. This is not where you will put your expensive outdoor dining set or pool bar. Create your meditation space away from those distractions. Even with your eyes closed, you’ll know they’re there and it can interrupt your mindfulness.
Even if you can’t meditate, you can still find inner peace.
Beginners to meditation often give up early because meditation takes practice. Some never really master it. If you are one of them, don’t worry. You don’t have to be a skilled mediator to create a space to find peace. A hammock, porch swing, or rocking chair may be all you need a few minutes a day to create your meditation space. Or even a reading nook, deep in a corner of your garden that receives a great morning sun, can become your oasis of solitude. The real key is choosing a place that separates you from your stressors and allows you to connect with nature and your inner peace.
As Americans become more and more connected and our lives get faster and faster, finding mindfulness and inner peace can seem increasingly difficult. But that inner peace doesn’t have to be. Recognize what is already in your garden, maybe make some modifications and create an outdoor meditation area. Maybe make some modifications and create an outdoor meditation area.