“Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.”
If you’ve ever tried meditating, you know that this is easier said than done. Speaking from experience, my mind almost immediately begins to wander. “What time is it?” “I’m hungry” “I wonder if he saw my text, I haven’t heard my phone” – I spend 10 minutes fighting off thoughts, fears and projections. Which frustrates me, and makes me feel like it’s impossible. This is where people begin to feel defeated and quit before giving it a real chance.
The key to meditation is consistency. You probably will not figure out the meaning to life the first or even 5th time. The goal is to remain consistent and intentional.
At the beginning of the year I set a goal of 15 minutes, 3 days a week. This helps me bring more structure to the process and make the ritual more intentional. My hope, is that my brain and body will become accustomed to silence and focus. Over time, this will become more natural and allow me to reach depths deeper than before.
Having a schedule also forces you to give up the excuses! “I don’t have time” or “I’m too busy” doesn’t work when you have purposefully made time for this exercise.
Benefits of Meditation
- Reduced Stress
- Emotional Balance
- Increased Memory
- Increased Focus
- Reduced Pain
- Increased Compassion
- Reduced Anxiety
- Increased Creativity
- Reduced Depression
- Increased Productivity
Tips for Meditating
- Go into the practice without expectations – You will probably not be a pro in the beginning. Releasing yourself of expectations will eliminate the possibility of feeling like you’ve failed. Give yourself time to grow with this process.
- Choose a time best for your schedule and brain – If your mind is more active during the morning, meditate at night. If you work nights at a bar, meditate in the morning.
- Designate a space to meditate – I like to sit in front of my widow facing the sun. Sunshine calms me.
- Try playing relaxing music – I like to play Tibetan singing bowls or crystal singing bowls. This helps my mind focus on the sound vs. creating a thought.
- Practice breathing – Breath-work is a huge factor to meditation. You should always begin your meditation with a few deep breaths and out. There are so many different methods, that’s definitely worth researching beforehand!
- Guided Meditations, Apps and Classes can be extremely helpful
Happy Meditating!