Morning Meditation Mishap
Every morning, like clockwork for the last 783 days, and 487 before that, I have meditated using my Insight Timer app. Almost 3.5 years. I like it because I can set the ding, the time, I get a motivational quote every morning, and I can track my “goodness”. On Sunday, I broke that streak. Now here’s the funny thing-- I didn’t realize it until 2 days later. Part of my routine is that I write down a daily intention in a journal/planner. On Monday when I saw I didn’t write anything on Sunday, I just assumed I forgot, but was certain I did my meditation—I even wrote that in my intention journal! This morning when I saw the “2” by the consecutive days on the app, I had a minute of cognitive dissonance. Surely the app must be wrong! However, unlike when I lost my streak 2ish years ago, today I was calm. Disappointed, yes. Bummed, for sure. But it almost felt like a relief. And I was thinking about the contrast from last time where I felt devastated and remembered saying “no no no no no no no!!!”
What’s different this time? I have done a lot of work around self-awareness, forgiveness, giving myself grace, and putting things in perspective. Sometimes I think we can put expectations, certainty, and routine up on such a high pedestal that when there’s a bump (or pothole) in the road we become completely derailed. We focus on the denial, the WTF happened? We beat ourselves up for being stupid or not doing a better job, for not being on top of things. At least I know that’s what I used to do.
Truth is, it’s not as important how we handle things/life when it’s going well, it’s when we have hiccups/disappointments that we learn who we truly are and channel our resilience. My missed meditation day isn’t comparable to a major setback like losing a job, a loved one, or receiving a bad health diagnosis. But this small disappointment is a reminders that life is unpredictable, and our strength lies in how we adapt and move forward from this unpredictability.
As I reflect on this experience, I’m reminded of the power of resilience. It’s not about avoiding bumps in the road but navigating them with grace and learning from each twist and turn—even if we wobble. How do we build resilience? Start by embracing flexibility, practicing self-compassion, and viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth. I’m not advocating for toxic positivity—definitely feel whatever feels you’re feeling. Then give yourself grace.
By cultivating a mindset that welcomes challenges and fosters adaptability, we can strengthen our ability to bounce back from life's unpredictability. So here’s to embracing life’s imperfections, whether they’re small like a missed meditation or a significant life-altering change. Each moment offers us a chance to grow and discover more about ourselves.
