6 Things You Should Know When Trying Meditation

Meditation is huge right now.

There is a lot of talk about meditation, but many still have bad associations with it. When we hear the word meditation, we think of Buddhist monks with shaved heads or strange people sitting cross-legged and making OM sounds.

Nothing could be more wrong. People are starting to realize that this practice is for everyone.

A few years ago, I started to hear or read more often that someone was practicing meditation and the benefits that it brought about. People reported feeling more relaxed and their minds working more clearly.

I didn’t have to wait long for the results.

They came very quickly. I was less nervous, my mind was clearer, and I was definitely more productive. I have noticed that the days I practice meditation are calmer and more congenial.

Difficult and stressful situations of the day became milder, and thoughts about the upcoming challenges of everyday life were clear and rational.
Over time, I could identify and overcome several barriers that made my meditation difficult and discouraged me a bit at first.
Read this post if you are thinking about trying meditation, but some things are blocking you. Maybe meditation will become easier and more evident for you.

1. There is no such thing as meditating in the wrong way

You can meditate while sitting cross-legged in the lotus position, in a chair, lying down, and even in motion.
You can try to silence your thoughts first or meditate with visualization. Maybe guided meditation is more appealing to you?

You can do this for 5, 10, 30 minutes, or more. It doesn’t really matter. 
Why? Because it doesn’t matter which way you choose or how long you practice meditation, there is no single best way to meditate.
The best kind of meditation is one that works for you.

2. Meditation is not about stopping your thoughts altogether

 Many people mistakenly believe that this is what meditation is all about. Many try to practice it this way and quickly get discouraged, concluding that it is not for them.

The state of complete exclusion of thoughts is practically unattainable. Thoughts will always appear in our heads, whether we like it or not and
don’t try to stop them because that’s not the goal.
How you react to your thoughts is important, not how you try to push them away.

Important note; if negative thoughts keep popping up in your head, try to gently transform them into positive thoughts.
Thoughts come and go, and less and less of them appear over time.

3. The key to meditation is regularity. 

How long does it take?

5 minutes is good, 10 minutes is great, and 15 minutes is excellent.
 Meditation is very personal, and there is no “right” time to meditate.
If you feel restless and bored after 5 minutes of meditation, stick to this time. You may, over time, feel a natural need to lengthen your meditation sessions.

It is best to execute meditation in the morning or evening before bed or during the day after lunch.

Meditate when you can and as much as you can. Do not give in to unrealistic challenges such as meditating daily for an hour; especially at first, it will be unrealistic and lead to discouragement.

It’s not the length that counts, but the fact that you do it every day. Even one minute of meditation will be better than nothing.

4. You can meditate anywhere

While it is good to have a designated space where your meditation will not be disturbed, know that you have the opportunity to meditate wherever you are.

You can meditate in bed, in a chair, on the floor, on an airplane, while walking or working.
There is no wrong place to meditate. There is no wrong place to meditate.

5. Make no excuses when trying meditation

They will always show up. Saying to yourself, “It’s not for me,” “I don’t have time, I’m too busy,” “I can’t sit that much,” “I can’t help but think,” and “Meditation is not for me” doesn’t make sense.

If you’re looking for peace of mind, finding yourself and your thoughts in this daily mess, give it a try. You can always give up, but if you want to meditate, make it one of your daily priorities. 

Get up 10 minutes early, don’t stay on Facebook and Instagram for so long, and don’t mindlessly flip channels on your TV.
If you have a problem with meditation-only time, try meditating, for example, when walking the dog or going shopping.

Meditation while moving is different from meditation with eyes closed. Focus mainly on breathing, and be aware of your footsteps, smells, and sounds around you.

6. Consider guided meditations.

Suppose you feel that meditation is too difficult at the moment. If you don’t know how to go about it or what to look for, try a meditation app or podcast; YouTube videos can also be helpful.

Find the app that suits you best, and pay attention to the length of each session and the guide’s voice. The latter factor can be of great importance. The very timbre of the voice can soothe you and put you in a proper state of relaxation, or it can be a bit irritating.

There is a large selection of guided meditations on the web, and you will surely find something for yourself.

Conclusion

Meditation is the practice of being aware of our thoughts and feelings in a non-judgmental way. It’s a way to develop our awareness of the present moment and stop thinking about the past or future.
Meditation can be used as a form of self-exploration or as a tool for reaching more profound levels of understanding and growth.

You don’t need to have any special skills or experience to start meditating. Meditation has many benefits. It can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, increase focus, improve attention and memory, and allow you to sleep better.

All you need to get started is a bit of and a few minutes daily.