Growing Popularity of Meditation
Meditation is growing in popularity. If you ask people on the street almost everyone has heard of it, but many people still have not tried it.
The benefits of having a calm, focused, and clear mind are on everyone’s list, however our busy lifestyles leave us very little time to do nothing.
A common statement I hear is “My mind is too busy, I can’t meditate,” or “I don’t have time to meditate.”
So why is it that so many people know about the benefits of meditation, yet have not tried it?
It often comes down to not knowing: How do you meditate in the first place?
Let me teach you four simple steps to create a life-long meditation practice, that will lead to true happiness and a deep feeling of fullness on all levels of your being.
How Do You Meditate?
Set a Time | Find a Quiet Place
Set aside X minutes per day. I recommend starting with 5 minutes, which is a short period of time that everyone should be able to spare. You can gradually increase your time by adding 5 minutes every week of consistent practice, up to 20 minute sittings.
Choose a quiet environment. One of the most important things about meditation when you’re first starting is to find a quiet place where your senses aren’t being pulled by sounds or smells. Over time this can change to a busy and more noisy environment.
Get Comfortable | Close Your Eyes
Make yourself comfortable. No that does not mean lie down on the floor, or leaning up against a wall. Posture is key here. Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position. I recommend using a prop to sit on so that your knees are below your hips, giving you a feeling of being grounded.
Remove the sense of sight. Other than finding a quiet place to remove the sense of sound, you will also want to remove the sense of sight, as this can be a big distraction for beginner meditators. Simple enough, close your eyes. Yes, over time you can open your eyes, but this requires more practice. I would consider open-eyed meditation a more “advanced” practice. So start with your eyes closed.
Watch Thoughts Come In
Be the witness. Meditation is not about “not thinking.” This is the biggest misconception of the practice. Thoughts will always come in. The trick is just to notice the thoughts and see them as energy. This helps put you in the witness state. Focus deeply and bring your awareness back to the witness whenever your mind starts to wander (aka follow the thoughts).
Repeat Again… and Again
Commit to your practice. I can’t emphasize how important it is to maintain a consistent daily practice. Especially if you’re starting with 5 minutes, there should be no excuses. This is a serious practice that can lead to many benefits, but it requires dedication and commitment. Enjoy!