| Meditation is one of the greatest gifts you can | | | | Do not fall into this trap. Yes, Buddhist monks |
| give to yourself. It promotes clarity, peace of | | | | meditate for very long periods of time, but their |
| mind, and relieves stress. For some however, | | | | environment is conducive to the goal they are |
| meditation can be stress inducing by itself. That is | | | | attempting to achieve. Do not make meditation an |
| why most people seem to think it lacks any | | | | obligation; otherwise you will fall into habit and |
| benefit. Quieting the mind is no easy task, but | | | | routine. It becomes one more stress inducing |
| with practice it is obtainable. | | | | thing that you feel you have to do, and this |
| My first recommendation when getting started | | | | mindset will not be in agreement with the idea |
| with meditation is to not treat it as a technique. | | | | behind meditation. |
| This may seem contradictory at first, but it's | | | | My fourth recommendation is this, be creative. |
| very important in understanding how it helps to | | | | Meditation does not have to be in the |
| quiet the mind. As humans, we are compelled and | | | | stereotypical lotus position, eyes closed, and |
| drawn towards "figuring things out". Have you | | | | mantra humming style. If it works, fantastic, but if |
| ever noticed how children constantly ask why? | | | | it doesn't don't beat yourself up. I feel meditation |
| It's because they want to understand whatever it | | | | is whatever brings you to higher states of |
| is they are analyzing. If you attempt to create a | | | | awareness and promotes general well being. Take |
| technique to meditate, it may hinder you. This is | | | | drawing or art for example, that state one |
| especially true of those with analytical minds. | | | | achieves where ideas seem to flow freely from |
| When you label meditation as a set in stone | | | | mind to paper could be described as active |
| technique it becomes more of an obligation, rather | | | | meditation. Another example is meditating on |
| than a state of being. | | | | nature. Sit outside one day and just focus on |
| My second recommendation is to not stress over | | | | your environment, notice every minute detail, but |
| meditation. As I said before when you treat | | | | don't analyze it, just perceive it as best you can |
| something as a technique, there is always a | | | | through all your senses. Again do not get caught |
| potential for something to go wrong. If you don't | | | | up in the whys and hows of meditation, instead |
| stress over meditation and allow whatever | | | | find your own way. |
| happens to happen, you will derive far greater | | | | Meditation is what one makes of it. If it is seen as |
| benefits than an individual who has a main focus | | | | a chore, then that is what it will be. If it is seen as |
| of "getting it perfect". It may seem counter | | | | a chance to quiet the mind and achieve happiness, |
| intuitive, but meditation is the absence of thought. | | | | then that is what it will be. Your perception of |
| One can not reach a state of peace if the mind is | | | | meditation is what creates your experience. |
| constantly debating whether or not the meditation | | | | Meditation is a chance to discover oneself and |
| is going well. | | | | become aware. Find your own path and learn |
| My third recommendation has to do with setting | | | | through experience. The greatest pleasure we can |
| time aside for meditation. Many people fall into the | | | | ever have in life is knowing who we are and what |
| trap of scheduling meditation and making it | | | | we stand for. |
| mandatory to do at least an hour of meditating. | | | | |