Meditate

“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

That above quote about meditation really encapsulates its essence. Meditation is not a hippy, spiritual, new age phenomenon. Meditation is designed as a tool to help you access what is great about yourself and others. Meditation (just ten minutes a day) is a great tool to still the mind from its needless chatter, thanks to the fast paced world we live in. With practice, meditation comes easy.

Time: Just 10 minutes a day

Materials
A Meditation Space
Candles
Yourself



Method


We all have the same 24 hours in a day, and to meditate we just need ten minutes of this. A good idea is to use an alarm (an iPhone is just as great) to remind you when to get out of meditation. Even though spiritual masters and Buddhist monks do it, there is no need to meditate five, six or seven hours a day. Just ten minutes to access its benefits of inner peace, clarity, calm and problem solving to name. It is ideal to meditate with your eyes closed.


It is ideal to create your own meditation space in your home. Regardless of the size of your home, all you need is a small corner of it. You don't need to invest too much. A candle or two is ideal. All of these elements are designed to train your brain. Your brain will get that (once you enter this space) it is time to meditate, and thereby your mind will wander less. Fill your space with things you enjoy, including fresh flowers.




It is not ideal to lie down while you meditate, otherwise you will fall asleep. The ideal position is sitting cross legged on the floor with a cushion underneath you. With the latter position, just be aware of your posture. You need a flat back at all times for your concentration and poise to flow. Otherwise sitting on an actual chair is great too, and definitely not in the slumped position. You need to sit up straight.


Breathing through your nose and taking deep as opposed to shallow breaths enhances your meditation experience. Deep breathing helps you take your mind away from any mindless, internal chatter. All you need to do is count your inhale to five, hold it for two seconds and exhale to the same count of five and repeat the process.




Some days will produce a great outcome while meditating, and other days may seem ordinary in comparison. Persistence is the key. If you wish to play some peaceful and relaxing music in the background, like the type you listen to when receiving a massage, its completely up to you. It might be a good idea to go to a few group meditation classes before doing it alone, and that way you will feel more comfortable with your meditation practice.



“The gift of learning to meditate is the greatest gift you can give yourself in this lifetime.” - Sogyal Rinpoche

Categories
#meditation
#self_help
#personal_development
#life_skills


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