| Learning to meditate can be an exciting yet | | | | wonder why it doesn't seem to work very well |
| frustrating experience. In western society, most | | | | for them. So make sure you avoid this mistake, |
| of us are not taught to control our minds as we | | | | make time for meditation practice every day, and |
| grow up, and as a result we have to learn from | | | | you're more likely to avoid being one of those |
| scratch as adults. Because of this, meditation does | | | | people who gives it up because it 'doesn't work'. |
| not usually come naturally to us, and unfortunately | | | | 4. Meditating In An Inadequate Environment |
| many people give up quickly because they find it | | | | A fourth mistake that people make with |
| too hard to keep their thoughts under control. | | | | meditating is not practicing in a suitable |
| However, a lot of this frustration can be avoided. | | | | environment. It might sound obvious, but it's very |
| This article discusses five of the most common | | | | important not to be disturbed when you're |
| mistakes made by beginning meditators, and gives | | | | meditating, so make sure that anybody else in |
| some suggestions about how to avoid them. | | | | your household knows this, and respects your |
| 1. Not Experimenting With Different Meditation | | | | meditation time. |
| Techniques | | | | You should also ensure you have a comfortable |
| Mistake number one is to just try one meditation | | | | place to practice, including a soft but supportive |
| method, decide doesn't work for you, and then | | | | surface on which to sit or lie down, and a quiet |
| give up. There are lots of different ways of | | | | environment at a comfortable temperature. You |
| meditating - such as focusing on your breath, or | | | | should also wear comfortable clothing. Taking care |
| using a mantra, or following a guided meditation - | | | | of details like these will go a long way to ensuring |
| and just like anything else, different methods will | | | | your meditation sessions are enjoyable, and so |
| suit different people. | | | | you'll be more likely to stick with them. |
| So if you try one method, and find that you don't | | | | 5. Making It Hard For Yourself |
| like it, don't give up on meditation altogether. | | | | A final mistake often made by new meditators, is |
| Instead experiment with different methods until | | | | that they make it difficult for themselves by |
| you find something that is more to your liking. | | | | choosing meditation techniques that take a long |
| 2. Expecting Results Too Quickly | | | | time to learn and master. |
| Another common mistake is expecting to see | | | | While just about anyone can master any |
| dramatic results too soon. Meditation has many | | | | technique with enough practice, if it takes weeks |
| wonderful benefits, and when you're first starting | | | | or months or even longer before you experience |
| off it's very easy to feel excited by the prospect | | | | the full benefits, you're not likely to stick with it |
| of experiencing these for yourself. | | | | for very long. |
| As with other pursuits however, meditation takes | | | | One of the easiest meditation methods, especially |
| practice, and very few people have wonderful | | | | for new meditators is to use a brainwave |
| experiences with it right from the beginning. So if | | | | entrainment recording. Such a recording is |
| you're finding it hard to focus your mind, or you're | | | | designed to help your brain to focus and relax |
| feeling bored and irritable, know that this is normal | | | | deeply. This helps to overcome the number one |
| for new meditators. Just keep practicing and you'll | | | | problem faced by new meditators, which is the |
| soon move beyond this stage, and begin to | | | | lack of ability to control the mind and stay |
| experience meditation's real benefits if you | | | | focused. |
| persevere. | | | | Using a brainwave track that is especially designed |
| 3. Not Practicing Consistently | | | | for meditating can help you to experience results |
| In order to get the most from meditation, you | | | | much more quickly, giving you the motivation to |
| really need to meditate every day. It should really | | | | keep going. |
| be part of your daily routine, like cleaning your | | | | I strongly recommend that anybody who is new |
| teeth or taking a shower - think of it as a 'mental | | | | to meditation give brain wave entrainment try, |
| hygiene' practice. | | | | because you really can experience some |
| Some people just meditate sporadically, and then | | | | extremely powerful results very quickly this way. |