Amateur’s Guide to Meditation
Meditation has now become a staple for everyone who is trying to reduce the impact of their schedule on their bodies and mind. Meditation is a sure-fire way to reduce stress, anxiety and mental fatigue from our lives but it might seem like a challenge to some who are not familiar with the practice. Treating meditation like another chore in your busy schedule can make it challenging to master.
What is the importance of Meditating?
Meditation is not about achieving excellence, rather it is about self-reflection finding our oasis to heal our body and mind. But if you find it hard to meditate or feel like you are not doing it right, here are some simple points that you can keep in mind:
Feel the air fill your lungs, concentrate on your breathing and establish a rhythm you are comfortable with. Your mind may wander while meditating initially and it is completely normal, you can use the rhythm of your breath as an anchor to focus your thoughts.
If you find it hard to steer clear of distractions you can use an eye mask to avoid distractions. Eye Masks can help to centre your wandering eyes and thoughts and improve your concentration. It is important to relax rather than focusing on results, meditation is all about relaxation and fixating on its outcome will only hinder your process. Forget everything else and stay in the moment concentrating on your breathing, relaxing and clearing your mind.
Getting comfortable is another important thing one must consider while meditating, it is common to meditate through yoga but you can meditate in almost any position as long as it is comfortable. The more comfortable you are the easier it will be to centre your energy and avoid distractions.
Another way to record your progress is to maintain a daily record of your meditation sessions and the thoughts that you concentrated on during your session. By assessing your daily process you can improve your meditation technique and identify stress triggers to eliminate them.
But most importantly do not rush things and expect results overnight, like any self-care regimen, meditation requires time to heal your body and mind. Give yourself time to build your meditation techniques to see better results.
Music can also be used to meditate and concentrate, you do not need to meditate in pin-drop silence, if there is a song or tune that helps you relax and concentrate use that to increase the intensity of your meditation session.
And if nothing else works you can always try some self-help videos and try out a guided meditation. It is all about your level of comfort and relaxation so find out what floats your boat and proceed with your sessions.
Slow and steady wins the race and the same is true for meditation as well, stop and breathe for a moment and reflect. Meditation is a tool for introspection, to get in touch with your mind and soul. Steer clear of negativity and avoid putting excessive expectations and pressure into your sessions to yield results and you will be meditating like a pro in no time.
Sources and References
https://ciinmagazine.com/lifestyle/ciin03022002-guide-to-meditation/
https://www.seniority.in/blog/meditation-guide-9-tips-to-help-you-meditate-better/
https://www.udemy.com/course/meditationguide/