Meditation 101

 

The whole concept of meditation is being swept up into such a huge hype right now. Celebrities, athletes and probably some of your friends are all talking about it. You’ve probably heard a lot about it but maybe you’re still a little bit skeptical of the whole thing. You’ve got some questions but don’t worry, I’ve got your answers.

What is Meditation?

Meditation can be different things to different people. Generally speaking it is quieting the overactive mind and allowing clarity to come through. For some people that means they can stop stressing, think clearly, relax, connect to their higher self, or even just enjoy the moment more.

 

How to Meditate

There are multiple ways to meditate and what works for one person might not work for the next. If you are brand new to meditation, you might want to start out by just paying closer attention to the activities you like to do.

For example, if you love to garden you might want to try absorbing all of the different feelings, smells, colors, sounds, etc as you plant each bulb or prune each branch. Another example is to really focus your attention on your breath if you enjoy doing physical activities (like yoga).

Even in the world of more traditional meditation there are many varieties. There are meditations where people focus on something specific, chant certain lines, walk in circles or through specific routes and more. Don’t feel like you have to stick to one kind of meditation or think that one kind of meditation is better than the others. Meditation is a very personalized experience.

Benefits of Meditation

The benefits of meditation can be huge! Again, everyone’s experience varies greatly but here is a list of some “typical” benefits you might expect from starting a meditation practice.

Improved ability to focus. When you learn to focus on meditation you might find it easier to focus on daily tasks as well.

Improved clarity. By taking the time to silence the overactive mind you might find the deeper underlying truth behind certain thoughts and actions.

General happiness. A lot of meditations are centered around the concept of being present and enjoying the moments in life for what they really are. That approach to life has lead many people to find deeper and more profound happiness in their lives.

Self-learning. With the improved clarity you will have opportunities to dive even deeper into your truth and learn things about yourself you could not have even imagined before.

 

What to do if it Doesn’t Work

If you have tried meditation and it didn’t work for you there are a few things you can do.

First off, you can try a different style of meditation. If it isn’t working then it might not be the right type of meditation for you. If it still doesn’t work then you could simply try again. It takes practice and you really should not put the pressure on yourself to make it work the first time.

Lastly, you can stop trying for a little while. Sometimes all you need is a break and if you keep it tucked away in the back of your mind then the opportunity might just present itself to you one day out of the blue. You might notice how pretty a piece of dust is one day while you’re stuck in traffic and you’ll be pulled into the present moment. It will be beautiful and well worth the wait.

 


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