Meditation

Meditation. Just saying the word conjures images of serene yogi's or buddhists sitting cross-legged on a mountain top. Did you know that meditation is attainable to everyone?

Well I'm sure you did since it has been around long enough & is currently part of the common yoga trend. But have you ever tried just straight meditation? If you haven't I highly recommend it. Learning to meditate is the best way to bring focus & personal knowledge & growth into your own life.

But you may wonder "how do you start meditating?" or the common "I don't have time to sit for hours doing nothing. I have a busy life with things to do!". Well my friends, both thoughts are valid, heck I know I've thought those things for years. It wasn't until this year I finally stopped making excuses & started meditating. The fact of it is, meditation is so easy, I don't know why I put it off for so long!

First things first. When you are learning how to meditate, you need to take baby steps. If you have the expectation where you will just jump in, close your eyes & your mind clears immediately...well you're not setting yourself up for failure, but you are making it far harder on yourself.

Meditation is not learned overnight. The easiest way to start is when you wake up in the morning, spend the first 5-10 min with your eyes closed, thinking about nothing. Don't think about going to work. Don't think about the meeting you have. Don't think about your commute. Just lay there with an empty mind. Listen to your heart beat. Listen to the air going in & out of your lungs. Feel the pulse in your neck. When you thoughts start coming into your mind, push them out. Or if you're having a tough time with that focus on one thing over & over, like a chant in your mind, I explain chants in brief detail in the next paragraph. If the thoughts keep coming & you can't seem to keep your mind empty, then stop your meditation. Don't beat yourself up. Your mind & body will tell you when you've had enough. Remember this is just your first time. Rome wasn't built in a day after all. If you do this everyday, you'll realize it will become easier each day & your meditation will last longer. Your life will be more positive & balanced. The little things which go wrong in life, just won't phase you anymore.

Now chanting. If you've done yoga you know about chants. The easiest ones are "OM" & "SAT NAM". OM is the base energy vibration to which all life was created. SAT NAM is the realization "Truth is God's name. Truth is your identity/name" in essence you are truth. Or if you prefer you can easily come up with your own mantra. Self affirmation is definitely helpful hen meditating as it will give you the positive energy you need. Chants are just used to focus your mind on something other than all the work you have to do. They definitely help & work when you are first starting out your meditation practices. I'm living proof!

So theres my 2 cents worth on the subject. I don't know everything about meditation, nor do I claim to. It is just something which has helped me out in life, so I thought I'd share it with the world.

Blessings on your day.

~Meg

Still your mind in me, still yourself in me, and without a doubt you shall be united with me, Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart.
-Bhagavad Gita

Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose.
-Eknath Easwaran

Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.
-Buddha