“Meditation is a process of lightening up, of trusting the basic goodness of what we have and who we are, and of realising that any wisdom that exists, exists in what we already have. We can lead our life so as to become more awake to who we are and what we’re doing rather than trying to improve or change or get rid of who we are or what we’re doing. The key is to wake up, to become more alert, more inquisitive and curious about ourselves.” – Pema Chodron
If one of your resolutions is to get into meditation this year, but you are not sure where to start, then might I recommend this very post?
Meditation is not, although it may appear this way, some mysterious and complex state of mind, but is nothing more than the pursuit of clarity in the mind. It offers space in which to order your thoughts around you, as your consciousness sits in the centre of the mind, in silence, with a clear view of the world around you. You don’t need to be sitting in that cross-legged position with your eyes closed to do it either, it can be achieved in most positions and environments (the cross-legged position is pretty comfortable though, to be fair!)
Finding time to focus the mind is important, especially as both spare time and genuine silence are hard to come by these days. The world is noisy. The world is fast. Getting on in the world is much easier when mediation is a friend, not an obscure, inaccessible mystery.
Here are some tips on how to get going…
1. Carve Out As Much Time As You Can Find
As life builds up again, spare time becomes harder to find. So, think of meditation time as part of your routine, not an added extra. Maybe you could implement it into your morning routine, or as an add-on before or after exercise? Meditation can be performed in as small a time as five minutes and as long as… well, as long as you like frankly. However much time you manage to carve out for it, make sure it’s consistent.
2. Find A Calm Place
Meditation can be performed anywhere. You can plug your headphones in and meditate on your commute, you can find a secluded place in the city like a library or museum. However, when meditation is new to you, it is a good idea to try and find a truly calm, quiet and secluded place to practice. Your living room is ideal. Or perhaps there is an empty studio at your gym or an empty space at work.
3. Create an Atmosphere
It’s not just about creating a calm atmosphere; it is also about avoiding things that create an unconducive atmosphere. You don’t need complete silence, but a bustling atmosphere full of busy people, a very bright room, or putting on thrash metal will probably not be ideal. Close to silence with a calming bit of music or nature sounds in the background works well. Brown noise is also fantastic, as it brings your brain down to a more meditative frequency. A room or place with gentle light is also a good move.
4. Get Comfortable
Comfort is not only important because it’s nice to be comfortable, but if you are uncomfortable you are likely to be distracted by the fact. Wearing comfy clothes, and sitting somewhere comfy and in a comfy ambient environment will elevate your meditation session, helping you to get the most out of it.
5. Focus on The Breath
The easiest meditations begin with focusing on the breath. Don’t push the breath to do something unnatural, just focus on it. This will soon bring you to a state of mental calm and clarity. Simply focusing on the breath for ten minutes will do you a lot of good.
By Chris Thomson
P.S. Whenever you are ready… here are 4 ways we can support your personal and professional Conscious Goals:
1. Access Free Live Meditations & Energy Transmissions
Inside our private Facebook Group, The Conscious Professional Mindful Community where Neil leads live weekly community events. Join now for free.
2. Learn To Meditate With Neil Seligman In Just 10 Days!
Zen in Ten, our flagship online course, is a ten-day mindfulness challenge for people who need to slow down.
3. Work With Neil One-To-One
See if a Conscious Coaching Partnership is right for you. Book a 15-minute discovery call with Neil here.
4. Bring The Conscious Professional To Your Business
See if The Conscious Professional training and coaching programmes are right for your team or workplace. Book a call here.
The Conscious Professional is dedicated to delivering inspiring corporate mindfulness and professional resilience training, conscious leadership coaching and workplace wellbeing services at the level of professional excellence. Thank you for following our blog.
