Meditation is something that we’re constantly being encouraged to use. Every self-help guru, every highly successful individual, and even many athletes trumpet its many benefits, and the research seems to back up its value.
So why don’t more people practice it?
If you are anything like me? I have many squirrels in my mind, jumping around like 4-year-olds sugared up and on a trampoline! Meditation? AH!
The main problem for most of us is that Meditation seems rather daunting, obtuse, and complicated. Meditation is ultimately about reaching enlightenment and inner peace right? Sounds a bit heavy for a Friday evening! Squrril chasing seems a lot easier:)
The real question for many people then is where to start. This article will provide you with a good starting point and help you with your first meditative experience. From there, you should feel a little more confident to try it again in the future…
Some Tips to Begin With
The first tip is to set yourself a timer for 10 minutes. 10 minutes is a short enough amount of time that most of us will be able to fit it into our busy schedules and by setting an alarm you prevent yourself from having to keep checking the clock to see how much longer you have — this is not conducive to meditation as you might imagine.
The next tip is to sit comfortably in a chair or cross-legged. You don’t want to lie down for fear of falling asleep but you should be comfortable.
However, if you want to lay down, do it. Meditation is to get your body and mind to rest. Not everyone can sit cross-legged, chanting OM. No judgement in the way you get comfortable.
Focus:
The next thing you’re going to do is to focus. This can mean focusing on your breath or repeating a mantra (a word of your choice) over and over. This will be your ‘anchor’ and you will come back to this whenever your mind starts to wander. AND IT WILL! Take a moment and figure out what will work best for you. The mind, in theory, should be silent. However, to me? It's a full-on express highway of thoughts, fears, worries, emotions, and more! So, focusing on your pulse or breathing may ease that troublesome mental travel.
If you struggle with these anchors, another option is to watch a flame. Lighting a candle and watching it can be a surprisingly effective form of meditation.
Just ‘Be’
Now just ‘be’ for 10 minutes. The mistake many people make here is to try and force themselves to have a ‘still mind’ devoid of thoughts. This is almost impossible for a beginner and will lead to nothing but stress.
Instead, we’ll take the mindfulness approach of simply letting the mind wander. When it does, make a note of it and simply focus back on your anchor. This removes the stress and gives you a safe environment in which to practice directing your attention inwards.
The same goes for itching and coughing — just let it happen and then return.
Try to repeat this three times a week for a couple of months and see what happens… You’ll be glad you did!
- ********************************************************
- Oil choice for this week’s blog? InTune® Oil Focus Blend
- *Paying attention and staying on task is an important part of effective study. InTune, a proprietary blend of uplifting and earthy aromas, is delightful when used while working or studying.*
- ! by Doterra. Learn More my.doterra.com/rustie
- Good work today!!!!
- Until next time………..
- My latest interview: https://www.spreaker.com/user/hori/living-thriving-with-rustie-on-horizon-t
- **Sign up for my youtube channel alerts and don’t forget to schedule a time to chat with me.***
- Feel free to sign up for my blog posts too! https://medium.com/@rustiemacdonald
- ***************************************************************
- If you are interested in Donating to my podcast
- or Write to me as I would love to hear from you:
- Living & Thriving with Rustie
- 2828 S Mccall Rd
- 32–4
- Englewood, FL 34224
Rustie MacDonald
Rustie shares her personal journey through severe poverty, rape, abuse, & homelessness in a light-hearted way. Her radio Show: blogtalkradio.com/rustie
