You may create a practice that you can repeat day after day after you have a few principles for putting the various parts together.
Always remember to keep things simple. After all, the purpose of meditation is to relax your body and calm your racing thoughts, not to complicate your life.
The following are the fundamental steps to establishing a consistent practice that works for you:
1. Select a Fundamental Method Of Meditation.
- There numerous types of Meditations to master, but even if you don't do anything else, pick one where you've established a sustainable meditation practice that will benefit you much in the long run.
- I suggest mindfulness meditation because it provides skills that can be applied to any activity or moment of your life.
- Other individuals may prefer a mantra based meditation.
- Yet others may choose a visual object focus as their preferred method of meditation.
- Select a method that is best suited for you and commit to this choice.
2. Complete Your Mediation Practice.
- You may wish to add another exercise or two that cultivates other characteristics of mind, body, or heart "Play to your strengths and fill in the gaps."
- The goal is to create a new likeable pattern of habit that incorporates your customized meditation routine.
- If you just have a few minutes each day, stick to your basic approach rather than becoming overly complicated.
- Commit to completing the session in its entirety without being disturbed or distracted.
3. Decide How Much Meditation and How Frequently you'll do it.
- You'll sit for longer or shorter amounts of time more or less often, depending on your motivation and reasons for meditation.
- Your interest in meditation may fluctuate according to the seasons of your life.
- You may, for example, have periods when you are more concerned with external success or family life, and periods when you are more concerned with inner development.
- Assure yourself that these fluctuations are to be expected and go with the flow by adjusting the amount of time you can set aside each week without making sacrifices elsewhere.
- Think of meditation as a long term investment that is worth the few minutes that you may be able to spare. I assure you, you'll thank yourself for the self care each day.
4. Maintain a Consistent Meditation Schedule.
- I can't stress this enough: Whatever else you do and whatever your life's cycles are, stick to your core method as if it were your loved one or your children.
- Stick with it through thick and thin, ups and downs, feast and famine, and anything else comes to mind.
5. Add New Meditation Practices when required, but Don't Abandon the Old Ones.
- If you become ill, for example, include a healing meditation.
- Add a lovingkindness meditation to your practice if you want to expand your heart even further.
- But don't forget about your fundamental method and stick to your new one.
6. Know When it's time to Dig a little Deeper into your Meditation Practice.
- If you feel compelled to spend extra time on your meditation cushion, go ahead and schedule it.
- The more you meditate, the more profound your experience will be.
- Just remember that waiting until you want to accomplish more is preferable than pushing yourself because you feel you "should."
7. When you Need Assistance with your Meditation, Seek it.
- You can only go so far into unfamiliar territory on your own.
- If you're having trouble with your meditation or having experiences that confuse or frighten you or simply want to be sure you're doing it correctly, you should seek out a teacher.
