I have been practicing meditation in various forms off and on for many years, and I am fascinated by the results. Let me explain why.
Even after all this practice and experiencing the positive effects first hand, I am still guilty of thinking the ‘right way’ to meditate is in a place of perfect solitude and tranquility with a perfectly still mind and body. Not so! More often than not, as I am meditating my mind is wandering all over the place. I do try to bring the focus back to my breath each time I realize it, but in a typical 15 minute session I could be off in the weeds and back to the breath a dozen times or more. When this happens I think to myself that this couldn’t possibly be helpful. And yet, after only 3 or 4 days the benefits are clear and significant. My stress levels begin to go down and my thought trains of negativity become recognizable and manageable. The greatest benefit for me is the clarity I get on my own thoughts. It becomes easier to recognize when my thoughts and worries have become irrational and out of control. That for me is priceless, because trust me, there is some crazy shit going on up in there sometimes. The benefits of meditation go far beyond what I have mentioned here. I’ve only touched on how my own life is improved by the practice.
I firmly believe that meditation’s rewards can be had by any one at any age in any situation.
If you’ve ever considered trying meditation but shied away because you thought it was too hard or you weren’t capable of meeting that perfect form I mentioned earlier, please reconsider. I firmly believe that meditation’s rewards can be had by any one at any age in any situation.
When learning to meditate the guidance of a teacher is helpful, especially if you have little or no prior experience. If learning in a local class is an option for you, go for it! If that isn’t available to you or it doesn’t fit with your schedule or circumstances there are fantastic resources online and in apps for your phone. I have tried many of them, some free and some paid, and there are two in particular I would recommend; Calm and Headspace.
Both of these services have introductory content for free, but the real value comes in the paid subscriptions. Both services cater to the novice, but also have options for the seasoned practitioner. Headspace is the service I use now. In the Headspace app you can choose between a wide variety of topics for your meditation 1 such as; stress, anxiety, sleep, self-esteem, patience, kindness, acceptance, creativity, focus, balance, motivation, etc. There are also quick activity based meditations such as; walking, running, commuting, fear of flying, eating, etc. They even have meditations specifically for kids from under 5 to 12 years old. Cool! I wish I had known about this at such a young age!
Bottom line, If you are a human being and you are reading this right now mediation is for you.
- If you prefer silence instead of a guided topical meditation there are also options for simple custom length timers. ↩