I remember taking a class on meditation many moons ago. I loved the concept. I struggled with the actual meditation part.
Fast forward to years (ok, decades!) later and I found myself walking down a personal development path where meditation has a strong presence. I tried it again. I loved the concept. I struggled with the actual meditation part.
I admit I am intrigued by meditation as I understand the theory. I understand the benefits. I totally believe in its positive effects. Yet incorporating the “traditional” meditation practice has proven elusive. (By “traditional” I mean the sitting with eyes closed, controlled breathing type of meditation).
My mind wanders like a curious cat! I never realized it would be so difficult to focus. It really showed me how many things I have running through my brain.
I really worried about it for a while as I was trying to learn and grow.
What I realized was that all my worry was actually getting MORE in the way of my meditation attempts. Ironic that worrying about not “doing it correctly” was actually preventing me from, well… doing it at all.
Whilst in my quagmire of worry, I was listening to Dr. Wayne Dyer and in a nanosecond my dilemma was absolved. He was talking about how meditation can happen while you are walking, or even while you are at a stoplight in your car. It is stealing away with moments, no matter how fleeting, where you can be quiet. Where you can be still.
You have no idea the relief I felt – partly because my failure at traditional meditation was now ok. And also that I HAD been meditating all along. I am always introspective on long drives. I love those. I also love to walk outside in nature. That is when I can quiet the majority of chatter in my head and reflect.
I know it might seem funny that I felt such relief getting “validation” from Wayne Dyer about meditation, but it also made me realize that we all get stuck on what we think something SHOULD be. What it SHOULD look like. What it SHOULD sound like. Discovering freedom from those constraints is a reminder I hope I continue to have.
So here are some meditation tips from a meditation flunkee:
- It is not important your form per se, but that you can steal away for even a few minutes to reflect.
- There is no perfect environment. Outside, inside, in nature, at a café… it is wherever you can find the space that works for you. Often I feel the most alone and at peace in a huge crowd because they aren’t worried about me! They have their own thing going on.
- You don’t have to actively be thinking a certain mantra to meditate. Instead of trying to fit a mold, ask yourself what mediation looks like for you and how it fits into your life.
- Never give up. I am back at trying the more traditional form of meditation. I may never achieve the inner trance-like state I’ve heard others speak of, but I derive positive things from my attempts and I enjoy it more and more.
- If you struggle to focus, especially when first starting, Bob Proctor has a great exercise where you watch the flame on a candle. Just watch it. Study it. If you find your mind wandering, that’s ok. Just bring it back to the flickering flame. This exercise is a very good one for training that ‘silencing the chatter’ muscle.
I may not meditate like many others, but the important thing is the outcome, not the form, in my opinion. Are you able to be introspective, reflective, and closer in touch with your intuition? Then form is not important. That outcome is.
Do you meditate? If so, please share any tips you have below. If you struggle, share those as well!
I discovered meditation looks different for everybody. And that’s ok!
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Thank you for the tips. Yes I meditate but I remember at the beginning, it was hard for me. Now I just love it .
It is definitely a learned practice! 🙂
I read a chapter in a book recently about how meditation affects the functioning of the brain. It didn’t say what form of meditation … how great that there are different ways of achieving it, besides what we think of as traditional meditation. Thanks for pointing them out!
You are welcome Sharon! Yes, luckily there are multiple ways to achieve the benefits of meditation. The important thing is to get to those benefits!
I could have written this except I would have ended it that I’m still a meditation flunkie. Dr Dwyer liberated you and you liberated me. Traditional methods never worked but you showed me all the other ways I do still myself and ways I can still myself. Great topic and approach.
Thank you so much Roz!! I am so glad I could help!
If meditation is “solving all the problems in the world”, then I do it all the time! Oh, well, I guess that’s not it, right? I meditate before I go to sleep at night. So far that has been the best time for me.
And studies show that what you think about as you go to sleep is very beneficial in your brain providing solutions or guidance when you are awake. That’s a great time to get quiet and reflect!
I didn’t realize those fleeting moments were meditation. I will be more aware of it now. Thanks!!
You are welcome Sandy! I really felt empowered when I discovered my meditation didn’t have to look a certain way. I think we all are in a meditative state more than we think!
After reading this post, I realized that I do meditate but not in the ‘traditional’ way. Haha. Thank you for this, it’s very helpful and inspiring. Happy Wednesday!
You are very welcome Lorii! I bet we all meditate more than we think we do! 🙂
Meditating is great if one can relax to do so. It took me quite some time. I find walking in the warm weather helps and in the cold winters, a hot bath relaxes me enough. It is still a challenge although I am getting better at it. 🙂
The key is to keep trying. But you’ve found some things that work, and again – the outcome is more important than the means, in my opinion!
Hello Lynn,
I don’t mediate, but I like to exercise. I usually exercise 4-5 times a week and this helps with my focus and helps get my life in order. Thanks for the great post!
Exercise is a great way of creating “you”-time. That definitely counts in my book!
It is difficult for me to mediate.. i am always racing in my head.. but i would love to try it..
That happens to me a lot. My goal is to just try to bring my mind back to quiet and calm. Good thing ‘do overs’ are ok in meditation! 😉
I like to sit, read parts of a good book that I’m focusing on at the moment, think & reflect. Usually I will pick up my Bible for good inspiration – a lot of goodies in there. But as you say, meditating is NOT a method. I find it’s a condition of the heart. It can be sitting, walking, driving, taking a walk, a the beach, anywhere in nature, in the pool… wherever your heart can go. Kudos, great post.
I love that: wherever your heart can go. Beautifully put! And true!!!!
I have a hard time concentrating because my mind is always thinking about 10 things at once! I actually used my walking time to meditate while listening to music. The music always soothes my anxieties and walking is good exercise.
That is great Diana. That is how I meditate as well. The peace of nature is amazing. I listen to some Josh Groban and enjoy the moment. 🙂
I usually try to take a walk at lunchtime to think and be quiet around nature.
That is a fantastic way to make the most of your time. I love that! It is a great reset for the second half of the day.
By definition, I usually meditate when we’re camping. I sit by the campfire and watch the flames, allowing my mind to drum up images and thoughts that I normally wouldn’t think of at that time of the day or night. 🙂
While I don’t meditate with legs crossed and eyes closed, I get my fair share! 🙂
Yes you do Bonnie – and in an awesome way! I LOVE campfires! What a great way to find mental quiet and reflect.