Whether
you are looking for more
peace or less stress in your life, meditation could be exactly what you need.
For beginners, or people who are
just learning about the amazing benefits meditation can provide for your mental
clarity and well-being, however it can be frustrating at first.
When
you first start meditating, you may experience a mix between waiting for
something to happen and having your mind over flooded with thoughts; the
practice of meditation can be a daunting task, and you may even feel
overwhelmed by it at first –I know I have. That is why I have compiled this
list of 20 tips to help get you in that perfect environment –inside and out –to
begin to implement this sacred practice more regularly into your daily life.
01. Practice Makes Perfect, Make Time For Meditation Every
Day..
When
you are first starting out, it is important to keep with it, you may not notice
the benefits right away, but the more you practice the easier it will become to
quiet the mind, and get into the state of relaxation and allow the clarity to
come through. Even for just 5 minutes a day, this will guarantee you stay on
track.
02. Start With The Breath..
Begin
every practice by breathing deeply, slowly inhaling and then exhaling and
focusing solely on your breath.
03. Let Go Of Any & All Frustrations..
It is
completely natural and normal to feel frustrated while learning to meditate.
Try not to hold onto these thoughts, and don’t try to stop them. Just let them
float on by and go back to focusing on the breath.
04. Pick A Specific Room In Your House To Meditate..
Try to
pick a room in your house that is free from a lot of outside noise or
distractions; preferably, pick a room with minimal electronics.
05.
Set Up A Peaceful Space..
Consider
having dim or no lights and burning some candles. Burning a little bit of
incense or diffusing some calming essential
oils (such as lavender) can help your mind and body to feel relaxed
and at ease.
06. Make
Sure To Not Be Distracted..
Let
your family, friends or roommates know that you will be busy for the allotted
amount of time and to not disrupt you, put your phone on silent.
07.
Feel Your Body Parts..
When
you first begin, while focusing on the breath, consciously try to feel each
body part, starting with your feet. Don’t actually physically touch the body
parts just feel them. After you feel the feet, work your way up to the ankles,
calves and so on. This is a great technique to put you in the zone.
08.
Make The Commitment..
Be
committed to the practice. For the long haul, if you can’t find time to
incorporate 5-10 minutes per day in your life for meditation, then you
definitely have some big issues that need to be resolved.
09.
Start Slowly..
Begin
by practicing meditation for just 5 minutes per day, you can even set a timer
if you like, as you start to get the hang of it and feel more comfortable you
can increase the time to as long as you feel you need to get into that deep
relaxed state.
10.
Read A Book On Meditation..
To get
even more tips for meditation, and to learn about some of the benefits and
other simple tips check a book or two out of the library, see what you find.
11.
Check Out Some Guided Meditation CD’s Or Listen To
Meditation Music..
If you
still have trouble clearing your mind sometimes, listening to a guided
meditation CD can be excellent by giving you something to focus on and listen
to so that the mind can just take in the instructions.
12.
Practice Being “Present” Throughout The Day..
During
the day, while driving, working, eating lunch, cleaning or whatever, find a few
moments of stillness in your day by quieting the mind and taking a few deep
breaths.
13. Experiment With Different Positions..
You can
try the typical yogi, “lotus” position, sitting cross-legged with each foot on
the opposite thigh, you can sit on a chair, with your palms facing up, you can
lay down, whatever you like. As you get more comfortable, you will find a
position that works best for you. When I first started, I loved to lay down,
but I was finding the calmness I would feel would put me to sleep almost every
time, soon I realized this position was too comfortable for me and it was better
for me to sit up.
14.
Experiment With Different Techniques..
There
are so many different ways to
meditate, there are: breath techniques, guided meditations, transcendental
meditation, binaural beats, rainforest sounds, etc. To read about a few different
methods of meditation click here. Experiment with what works best for you and
what puts you into that
state more effectively.
15.
Let Go of Any & All Expectations..
The
benefits that you will receive from meditation will come in a variety of
different ways. You may receive messages during your practice or even later in
the day, you may have visions, you may have an out of body experience, or you
may not. If all you get from meditation is 5 minutes a day of a clear head,
than that is perfect in its own way and will be enough to relieve stress and
bring peace into your life in a way that you may never thought was possible.
Don’t get caught up with what others claim to have experienced, focus on
yourself and remember you are doing this for yourself only. It is not a
competition; remember there is no right or wrong way to meditate.
16.
Consider Meditating In The Morning..
Meditating
in the morning can give you a clear head and set you up for a peaceful start to
your day. It can help eliminate stress before it begins.
17.
Use The Flicker Of A Candle As A focus Point..
Staring
at the flame of a candle can assist you
with quieting the mind.
18.
Set Your Intention Ahead Of Time..
If you
have a specific issue or decision you need to make and are having trouble
finding the answer, set your intention for what you would like to receive
during the meditation. Don’t expect to get a clear answer in the form of your own voice, but just pay attention to any feelings you
may feel or signs that may possibly come afterwards. Sometimes the best way to
solve a problem is to stop thinking about it and let the answer come to you.
19.
Visualize Light Flowing Through Your Body..
More
specifically, if you feel that you have a specific chakra blocked, you can
actually visualize white light coming from the sun and into your body, this can
help to release the blockages. Intend to let go of any old emotional patterns, or vibrations and infuse yourself with the high vibration of
the white light.
20.
Have Gratitude For Your Practice..
Even if
you feel like you didn’t get much from the practice, don’t give up. Be grateful
that you took the time to sit down and practice. The effects may not be obvious
at first, but in time you will be glad you started.
Source:collective-evolution.com
