Meditation

Introduction 
Many people that I speak to don't even know how to get started with meditation. It sounds so daunting that many have a real hard time. I'm going to tell you how I started out, which may help you. Before you discount meditating and click away, please hear me out.

Benefits
The benefits of meditation are spectacular. If you choose not to meditate, you are missing out on many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. You don't have to take my word for it and do your own research.

Meditating will:
- Reduce stress, anxiety
- Clear your mind
- Ease headaches
- Help you identify any physical symptoms
- Keep you present, which helps you enjoy your life
- Connect yourself to your soul
- Connects you to spirit and the divine
- Raises your vibration, which will provide many benefits on it's own

My Story
When I first heard about meditation, it was from my mother. She gave me a book title, which I promptly bought. However, I put it on my shelf where it gathered dust for 2 years. My main two excuses were, "I don't have the time to meditate." and "I just can't sit still, so it will never work for me." Like many others, I just didn't even want to try. It seemed way too hard. I work in tech. When the stress at work became too much, I reluctantly took the book off my shelf and read it. My first meditation attempt was hard. I sat there for 5 minutes and my mind went to a million places. I stopped frustrated and didn't think I could do it. I didn't try again for a week. I was mad at myself, which is not what you want to do. I went back and tried to be patient with myself. Eventually, I got to meditating every other day for 5 minutes, then every day. Then I graduated from 5 minutes, to 10, then 15, 20, up to 25 minutes a day. Now I really notice when I don't meditate. I crave it now because afterwards, I feel like a million bucks. It is really amazing.

Meditation Tips
Try these meditation tips.

1. Figure out the best time for you. Choose what works for you. Otherwise, you won't do it.
   a. Morning? It is recommended that you meditate within the first hour of waking up in the morning. Reason being that you can start your day with a clear head.
   b. Night? If you are a night owl like me, you may want to choose to do it right before bed. That is what works best for me. It allows me to wind down from my busy day.
   Some people like to meditate both in the morning and at night. I don't do that, but perhaps someday I will.

2. Decide on what type of meditation you would like to try.
   a. Silent meditation
   b. Guided meditation
   c. Music meditation Yes, there is mindful meditation as well, but that is not what we are talking about here. I highly recommend mindful meditation, but that is another post. Personally I do the silent meditation. I cannot do the other two as they are too distracting IMO. If you choose guided or music meditation, there are plenty of free online videos to choose from.

3. No distractions. You don't want any noise if at all possible. Light background noise is ok. Make sure you put your phone on silence mode.

4. No interruptions. You don't want pets or kids around you. Make sure they are in another room and will stay there until you are done.

5. Start small. Meditate for 5 minutes and no more than that. Once you are good with 5 minutes, you can graduate up to 10 minutes, then 15, then 20, etc.

6. Set a timer. Make sure you set a timer, so you aren't constantly looking at the clock. I use my iPhone and place it right beside me.

7. Sit in a comfortable place. You can either sit Indian style or sit in a chair. If you sit in a chair, make sure your feet are planted on the floor. You don't want them crossed.

8. Hold a crystal. This may sound strange to you, but holding a crystal helps my mind focus on the crystal in my hand, which helps me to blank out all of my thoughts. Any crystal will do. If you don't have one, you can hold any object. I will hold my crystal in my left hand and leave my right hand empty.

9. Do I have to face in a certain direction? No. You don't. I face north, but you don't have to do this.

10. Always meditate in the same spot. There is a reason for this. It is where your energy will remain. If you meditate in the same spot always, then it will be easier for you to meditate there.

11. If you are habitual, like I am, make meditating a habit. I make it habit to meditate right after I take my dog outside right before I go to bed at night. This works very well.

12. Don't be hard on yourself. If you try to meditate and it just doesn't work and you cannot get into the zone, then don't get frustrated. Just try another day.

13. Don't force yourself to meditate. You may think, "I'll never do it then!" Well, true. But you don't want to force yourself because it will be a frustrating experience.

Beginning your Meditation
This is what I do. However, choose a routine that works for you.

1. Get comfortable.

2. Grab a crystal.

3. Close your eyes.

4. Take 3 deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose and fill your lungs. Then breathe out your mouth until all the air is out of your lungs.

5. Thank your angels and guides.

6. Say 5 things you are grateful for.

During Meditation
Now, just clear your mind and be present. When your mind tries to fill with items, like shopping lists or a conversation you had with someone, or whatever, try to just let the thoughts pass and fade away. Don't worry if these thoughts keep coming. They will. Just practice letting them come and then fading away. Eventually they will stop coming. In your first meditation (or second or third), you probably won't be very successful at it. It is ok. You will. When you are successful at clearing your thoughts you eventually get into "the zone" where your brain goes into a theta wave state. This is your ultimate goal. You can shift your consciousness by synchronizing your brainwaves to the desired frequency. The theta frequency is where you want to go. Theta brainwaves is what happens when your brain is near the stage of sleep. You get very relaxed and your creativity and intuition turns on. This is where you will be present and can connect to the divine.

Conclusion
I highly recommend meditation and I encourage you to give it a try. I expect you will fail miserably at it, like I did. When you do get the hang of it, it will change your life. You will never want to stop. Your body and mind will thank you. Your soul will be very grateful as well.

elysamurdock.com