What is meditation? What’s supposed to happen and how do you know when you’re doing it right?
I’ve been meditating off and on for over twenty five years now. I started meditating through Aiki-Do. It was woven into the classes at the dojo and I just tried to do what I was told.
I don’t consider myself an expert and I don’t have any particular methodology that I follow. I’ll attempt to share what the point of meditating is (at least for me) and why you should be doing it.
There are all sorts and types of mediation; some that include intense focus, specific breathing exercises, postures, walking, chanting…yada yada…I’m sure you can explore whatever floats your boat or piques your interest. There are benches, pillows and all sorts of paraphernalia that can be used to get your chill going.
One thing I know for sure is that the benefits can never be fully experienced without consistent practice. Also, I’m talking about doing this as a practice that can have spiritual effects but I’m not referring to any religious stuff. The important thing is just that you’re doing it and doing it consistently.
Here’s the deal, by sitting still, without distractions for ten minutes three times per week, you’re maximizing the rest of the day and the rest of the days a week. Invest in yourself. Do it at the same time each day, in the same place while you’re alone or while others are mediating while sharing your life and space. That is meditation.
If you say you can’t find the time or you’re too busy then you need it even more than you know.
YOU DESERVE AND NEED TEN MINUTES BY YOURSELF SITTING STILL EVERY SINGLE DAY.
We are built with the possibility to operate independently between our physical self and our mental self. (Our body and mind) We really don’t do this to the extent that is possible. Our thoughts control our emotions and then our emotions cause us to feel physical sensations that interfere with our ability to operate to our highest potential.
That ten minutes…or however long that you do it for, is to liberate your body, mind and emotions. You have nowhere to go, nothing to do and no one you have to be. You have ten minutes where you basically don’t have to exist. This resets some things in the brain and is also a good practice to liberate your thoughts from sensations so you can do it all throughout the day.
Let your thoughts be like clouds and your mind be the blue sky…the clouds gently roll by.