Ep 25: From Falling Asleep to Finding Myself: A Black Woman's Meditation Journey

Send us Fan MailThe journey to inner peace often begins in unexpected ways. For me, it started with a desperate search for financial independence while trapped in an abusive marriage. In 2018, I turned to meditation not for spiritual enlightenment but because successful people in an MLM claimed it helped them make money. What began as a practical pursuit transformed into the cornerstone of my healing journey.That first 45-minute guided meditation sent me into the deepest, most cathartic sleep I'd ever experienced—so profound that concerned colleagues and my then-husband couldn't reach me for hours. My traumatized body had finally found permission to truly rest. This moment marked the beginning of a practice that would eventually guide me through leaving my abuser, navigating single motherhood, and managing increasingly complex mental health challenges.From falling asleep during every attempt to gradually building my practice minute by minute, my relationship with meditation evolved alongside my understanding of myself. Walking meditations during work breaks became sacred moments of reprieve from anxiety. Silent morning sessions on my patio became conversations with my inner child and shadow self. This practice—now spanning nearly nine years and hundreds of logged hours—became especially crucial when perimenopause amplified my depression, anxiety, and ADHD symptoms to debilitating levels.As Black women, we inherit expectations of unwavering strength that can make the vulnerability of stillness feel counterintuitive or even frightening. Yet I've found that teaching my nervous system to calm down, becoming attuned to my body's signals, and creating space for quiet introspection are revolutionary acts of self-care. In my darkest moments of 2023, when poverty and hormonal fluctuations led to serious suicidal ideation, meditation remained my pathway to moments of peace.Whether you're struggling with trauma, mental health challenges, or simply the overwhelming nature of modern life, I encourage you to begin with just one minute of stillness daily. You deserve peace. You deserve a calm nervous system. You are worthy of creating moments of stillness in your life—and you may be surprised by how profoundly they transform everything else.📚MY BOOK📚Grace, Actually: Faith, Love, Loss & Black Womanhood 🔗 https://amzn.to/2I2uqBE💌SIGN UP FOR MY SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER! 💌https://outheretrynasurvive.substack.com/📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES📧[email protected]⚡️CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL⚡️📲INSTAGRAM -https://www.instagram.com/grace_sandra_📲TIK-TOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@OutHereTrynaSurvive📲FACEBOOK -https://www.facebook.com/gracesandrawrites🖇AFFILIATE INFO🖇Affiliate Links included. I only recommend products & services I use myself & love. Using affiliate links helps me & is no extra cost to you.🎗SUPPORT🎗💐Support here: https://www.patreon.com/GraceSandra🎶MUSIC🎶All music & permissions provided by: Epidemic Sound.🔗 https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vm2l9Support the show