You Tried To Meditate But It Didn’t Work? Here Are 4 Tips To Help You

The simple practice of meditation can change your life, from top to bottom and inside out. The numerous benefits of meditation have recently been proven by science; the benefits of meditation range from improved mental health, better relationships to better performance at work. However, many who are new to meditation are easily discouraged, and very few are persistent. The common misconceptions about meditation can be discouraging, so let’s debunk them now.

I Tried Meditation Once But It Didn’t Work

Maybe you tried meditation during a yoga class or a workshop, and felt disappointed. It’s very likely you expected an instant experience of peace of mind and bliss. Unfortunately, you experienced the “monkey mind”, with your thoughts jumping all over the place. Please understand, this is normal. It’s not fair to yourself to make the assumption that meditation doesn’t work on the basis of one experience. Meditation is a practice. That means you need to practice it regularly, honing your meditation skills over time. It can take a lot of practice before you can accomplish a quiet mind.

I Just Can’t Stop Thinking

One misconception concerning meditation is the false belief that meditation involves no thoughts at all, with a perfectly blank mind. This common belief can cause many new to meditation to struggle against their thoughts, ultimately giving up in frustration. Meditation does not mean a perfect state of no thinking. It simply strives to be aware of when the mind becomes distracted by thoughts. The purpose of meditation is to refocus your awareness on the object of meditation, such as the breath or a mantra.

I Don’t Have the Time to Meditate

It’s unnecessary to practice meditation for hours every day like monk, to experience the benefits. Simply dedicating a few minutes to a half an hour of meditation practice every day can be very beneficial. Everyone is very busy these days, and we need to consciously make time for our priorities. You simply need to make meditation a priority. The key is to make time to practice meditation every day, even if it’s just five minutes. Consider the practice of meditation the same as making your own happiness and well being a priority.

I Don’t Have a Quiet Space To Practice Meditation

It would be very nice to meditate in a beautiful natural environment or a quiet, peaceful monastery, but that’s not really necessary. It doesn’t matter where you meditate, just as long as you do it. Simply find a place that’s reasonably quiet, where you will not be disturbed for at least a few minutes. Someplace where you can sit comfortably; this could be on your bed, on a cushion on the floor, a comfortable chair or even on the bus.

I’m Not Buddhist

The practice of meditation is not unique to Buddhism,. There are Hindu forms of meditation, and even Christian and Jewish forms of meditation. There are also popular secular forms of meditation, such as mindfulness meditation and counting breaths. You don’t need to believe in any particular religion to learn and practice meditation. A calm and quiet mind is for everyone, whether or not you believe in any religion, or no religious at all. There are many excellent ways to learn meditation; there are different meditation training seminars, classes and even audio programs to choose from, that have nothing to do with religion. It’s very likely your local gym even has a meditation class.

I hope this clears up some of the common misconceptions that may stopped you from really committing to your own meditation practice. Meditation is really a necessity for everyone. With patience and perseverance, meditation can positively change your life in unexpected and profound ways.