Meeting the Mind.
What is meditation?
Meditation is a habitual process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts.
It can be used to increase awareness of yourself and your surroundings, and cultivate a better understanding of your mind, and thought patterns. You are not trying to turn off your thoughts or feelings. Instead you are learning to observe them without judgment. You are cultivating a deeper understanding and perspective of them, and growing your capacity to be present.
“Meditation is the art of doing nothing.”
Naval Ravikant
Many people believe that in order to meditate the mind has to be empty of all thoughts. When a thought does come and they get distracted, they feel they have failed. However, the essence of meditation is doing nothing. It is simply being, observing, without trying to control or change anything.
The human mind is very much like the sky. Some days the sky is cloudy, others it is clear. Even when it is cloudy, the blue sky is always there, just not visible to the eye. The same is true for the mind. Some days it is busy and clouded by thoughts, and others it is clear and still. Meditation increases our capacity to understand the state of the mind, and to observe the passing thoughts, watching them as clouds moving across the sky, instead of allowing ourselves to be engulfed by them.
The benefits of meditation.
Having a regular meditation can serve you in a variety of different ways. Meditation is said to decrease stress, improve mental clarity and energy, and foster creativity. Some of the most successful innovators in history have been dedicated meditators. Meditation has been scientifically proven to mitigate addiction, depression, anxiety and stress, cognitive function, and eating disorders. It is also said to improve cell health, balance hormone levels and reduce blood pressure.
Other ways in which meditations can improve your overall health and wellbeing:
Image by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition
The daily practice.
Meditation is a daily practice, and every day is different. In order to cultivate our capacity to be present and observant of our thoughts, we need to dedicate energy to this. For many, starting the journey of developing a regular meditation practice can feel daunting. The thought of having to be with our minds and confront our thoughts can feel intimidating, and often we can come up with hundreds of excuses why we will start tomorrow.
My advice to people is to start small, be consistent, and be gentle with yourself. Often we feel we do not have enough time to meditate, especially in the mornings. It is up to you to create the time. Even if you cannot do a full ten minutes, doing two minutes is better than none at all. Often it is the times when we feel least like meditating, that we need it the most. It is the little pieces that add up to a greater whole over time.
Some easy steps to take when developing your practice:
1. Identify your why. Why do you want to practice meditation? How do you want it to make you feel? What do you want to get out of it? If you’re clear on your intentions, you’re more likely to see the benefits.
2. Start small. Even just several minutes of meditation can have a great impact on your well-being. Start with a few minutes a day and work your way up to 20–30 minutes if it suits you.
3. Pick a modality. Maybe you prefer a guided meditation to give you more structure or like to repeat a mantra in your head. Experiment to find out what works for you. Do not limit yourself to what is popular or what your friends are doing.
4. Commit to it. Even if you only choose to practice a few minutes per day, establish a routine. Consistency is key – a few minutes each day is more effective than an hour once a week.
5. Join your community. If you enjoy group settings, consider a group meditation class that may allow you to feel more connected and engaged.
If you would like to try some guided meditations suitable for beginners, head to my Youtube channel, or my Instagram TV. I also offer one-one meditation classes via Zoom, so if you would be interested in working together, or have any questions pop me an email. Happy meditating.
All love
x
