Soul Alive's Beginners Guide to Meditation
Well done! Whatever reason has brought you here, you found it in yourself to take that step to do something about it. That really is the hardest part.
I have put together the following steps to help anyone wanting to bring meditation into their lives and experience the wonderful benefits of it.
These steps are very practical and address the most common challenges one faces when starting out with meditation. In saying that though step one seems almost counterintuitive, but I’m confident it’s an important one to try and embrace…
1. LET GO OF THE REASON WHY YOU CAME HERE
When I started out meditating I treated it like any other new project or skill. I set out determined to learn and master it, with the aim of it ‘curing’ certain problems I was experiencing and improving other areas I wanted improvement in.
What I soon found out though was that this approach was, in fact, holding meditation back from doing it’s magic. You see, any ‘want’ or ‘desire’ is attached to the ‘self’ e.g. ‘I want meditation to help me relax.’ and meditation works best when we surrender the self (our wants) and simply accept the moment (the everything in and around us).
So my first piece of advice/step for those starting out or wanting to try meditation is to simply let go of the reasons why you want to meditate and just enjoy the process. Go into it expecting nothing and I’m confident you’ll come out of it with more than you can imagine.
2. FINDING A QUIET PLACE WILL HELP. BUT IS NOT ESSENTIAL.
You can find calmness and connection in any environment. There is beauty in everything that is happening in the present moment. Yes, there’s even peace focusing on the different sounds and happenings of a construction site.
However, when starting out, I would recommend trying to find a quiet as possible place to meditate. Investing in a pair of noise-canceling headphones can help too.
If you have time, there’s nothing better than a quiet spot nature. But if you can’t find such a place, grab those headphones, head to Spotify and search for some meditative music that you like.
3. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SIT LIKE A TIED UP PRETZEL
I’m assuming you’ve seen those istock pics of people sitting crosslegged on top of a mountain and thought that’s how you meditate right? Don’t worry. I thought that too when starting out.
The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to your meditation position is to just simply be comfortable. You could be lying down or just sitting in a chair. You don’t have to be completely still too. You can stretch and adjust your position to be more comfortable whilst meditating. Particularly when first learning to meditate, just relax, get comfy and enjoy the ride.
4. YOUR MIND IS GOING TO WANDER AND THAT’S A GOOD THING.
One of the most common reasons why I hear people not sticking with meditation is that they feel like they are doing in wrong. In other words, when they can’t keep their focus on whatever the meditative practice is directing them to focus on e.g. a mantra, their breath etc, they get frustrated and then that thought begins to snowball into a greater sense of frustration and even annoyance.
Here’s the thing though, that point where you actually catch yourself wandering off is an essential part of meditation. It’s like your mind doing a bicep curl. It’s you becoming more self-aware and is something to be celebrated, not criticised. So when this happens, and it will, just smile, congratulate yourself and gently direct your focus back to whatever the meditation practice is asking of you (your breath, mantra etc). Meditation is the act of doing this over and over again with each ‘catch’ strengthening your mind and opening your spirit a little more and more.
Ready to give this meditation thing a go?
Download the app below to start with your free week.
Big love 💛
Luke
