It’s easy to miss out on the now if you’re constantly thinking about the future or lamenting the past. And we use a lot of mental energy worrying about the past and the future, both of which we have no control over. A daily meditation practise that brings your focus to the present moment can bring clarity, contentment, and power. And you don’t have to flee to a monastery or a mountainside to obtain it.
If you’ve never meditated before, things can become a little wild. When you sit silently, you will most likely feel as if a million thoughts crash in on you all at once. That is very natural. Surprise! The thoughts aren’t new – they’re always there! You were just so preoccupied that you didn’t notice them.
Your task is to sit quietly, breathe properly, count your breaths, and observe the thoughts as they pass without judgement. Your task is just to not follow any of them. Simply take a few deep breaths. It’s similar to sitting on the side of a busy road and watching traffic. You can’t stop the cars from passing, but if one pulls over, you don’t have to get in! There will be no stranger rides!
Here are some fundamentals of meditation:
- Find a peaceful location with as few interruptions as possible.
- Place a chair against the wall (you can sit cross-legged on the floor if you want, but keeping an upright posture is much easier in a chair).
- Face the wall and concentrate on a single place. If necessary, create a dot on the wall with a pencil.
- Breathe in and out via your nose. In comes one, out comes two. Count to ten and start over.
- Pay attention to the thoughts and images that arise and allow them to pass.
- Maintain your focus on your breath and the area in front of you.
It’s natural to become frustrated with meditation if you believe you’re expected to have a peaceful mind. That is not the intention. You will never have a quiet mind. The goal is to sit calmly in the present moment, in the presence of your own thoughts. Don’t worry if you lose track of time or drift asleep. As soon as you realise you have, return your attention to your breathing and begin counting again from 1.
Taking a few minutes out of each day to get to know yourself a bit better via meditation is one of your possibilities. It’s easy to believe we have a thorough understanding of ourselves. Take some time to focus inward, and you could learn something you didn’t know before.
Enjoy your meditation practise! Don’t stress about perfecting it right away; we encourage you to keep it up, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day.
You have plenty of time to practise!
#Started #Meditation