Think of meditation as a process of catching up on the backlog of thoughts, feelings, and emotions in your brain. 

When we experience the monkey mind (mind chatter), it's like having a backlog of inventory (information) in a warehouse (the mind) that we haven't had a chance to sort away on shelves. There is also long line of trucks outside waiting to bring in more inventory. Meditation is the act of intentionally not accepting any new inventory so that we can catch up on sorting and putting away our current inventory in the warehouse. Translation: Meditation is the act of not taking in any new information so that our thoughts, feelings, and emotions can be fully processed and released.

When we are still, either in quiet, while listening to music, or while listening to a guided meditation, that is the act of not bringing in information from the world around us. Sometimes, doing tasks such as going for a walk, washing dishes, or knitting can be used as meditation because we are not taking in more information during those activities. When we have mind chatter while being still, that's actually the mind processing the backlog of thoughts that were never completed, feelings that were never fully felt, and emotions that were never thoroughly expressed. When we have finally processed that backlog, our mind becomes quiet and we experience what it truly means to be present. 

So, it is completely normal to be thinking a lot when we start a meditation routine. What is most important is taking the time to meditate regularly. That way you can eventually catch up on the backlog of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions and become present.

Sometimes, when we are very sick, fatigued, or grieving, it can be easy to forget about the many self-care tools we have on hand. That's because a stressed mind is more prone to forgetfulness as well as reduced critical thinking and problem solving. To help you remember your self-care tools in the midst of upset, worry, and despair, take inventory of your self-care toolkit.

There may be parts of your authentic self that are yet to be discovered. That is because you have not had the experiences that will reveal those parts to you. Repeating the same life day-in-day-out robs you of the chance to have those experiences. So, don't wait on them to come to you. You can go to them.