Getting Started With Meditation

Getting Started With Meditation

There is so much “out there” on meditation these days... right? You may even be thinking, ‘Meditation, that old topic again. I can’t get away from it!’

If that is the case then you probably need meditation even more because the Powers that Be are bringing this blog into your Life's Path for a reason.

So, pay attention and breathe...

This is for you as well as the ones that aren’t sure about what meditation is or can do for the soul.

It seems as if there are many reasons why people don’t meditate or, perhaps, feel as though they can’t meditate.

I know this because when my meditation journey first started, these were some of the same conundrums that plagued my thoughts too! And the more research that was done the more people I discovered felt the same way.

A couple of truths became very clear to me after some time of reflection, one: I wasn’t serious at the time about meditation, secondly: on some level, I didn’t want to do the “work” which would ultimately help me.

Deciding to meditate was a choice that took dedication, consistency and time. I discovered one must look internally to guide one's self out of the little ruts that have developed over a lifetime.

Remaining in these ruts can feel like a comfy place to be even if we are unhappy, however if we look outside the current sphere, it turns out, these “reasons” are really excuses.

Let's look at some of the reasons/excuses that we all use:

1. I Can’t Quiet My Mind

I have learned over the years that you don’t have to always quiet your mind in order to feel like you have successfully meditated.

Different teachings, such as T.M. (transcendental meditation) or yoga teach us that you can simply allow the thoughts you have to come and then flow right on out. Meaning, we can allow the never ending “to do” list to simply play without adding comment or judgement.

2. I Can’t Get The Breathing Right.

First of all, we have been breathing from the moment we took our first breath. Some of you may be saying, “But isn’t there a specific way to breath?” Yes and no-there are breathing techniques that one can implement to achieve different levels of centeredness, however we are just looking at getting you started in meditation in this blog.

Different breathing techniques can be explored as you become more comfortable with meditating.

For now you can just breath as you normally do.

In fact by being mindful of your inhaled breath and your exhaled breath is a wonderful way to help your mind can become focused. You do not need to speed up your breath or slow it down at this point.

Just breath.

Notice how the breath coming in feels. Notice how the breath leaving your body feels. When you are focusing on your breathing your other thoughts won’t feel like they are intruding. This practise may only last a few minutes or you may want to keep at it for longer. There is no right or wrong.

3. The last reason/excuse I want to mention now is my all time favorite excuse… “ I don’t have time.”

As I have told many people over the years, “ You have to go to the bathroom at some point!”

You are not able to do much else when you are on the porcelain throne so take that time, no matter how

long or short that time period is, open or close your eyes (whatever feels comfortable to you at the moment), breathe in and breathe out. Focus on your breath and allow any thoughts you have to come, receive them and let them flow right on out.

When I am meditating I like to imagine that my thoughts are coming in one ear and dances across my mind's eyes, they go out the other ear.

Now that you have stayed till the end take a nice slow breath in, feel yourself relax, and breathe slowly out.

Meditation is just that easy. Will you give it a go?