What is meditation and who is it for?
Over the years I have met countless people who have expressed a desire to meditate, yet feel intimidated trying. There are countless others who have told me “I tried meditating, and it’s just not for me and my busy mind,” or “I really wish I could meditate, but I don't have the time.” The good news is that despite obstacles like not knowing where or how to start, and having a busy mind or lifestyle, meditation is quite accessible – dare I say it? – even easy.
What is meditation?
According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, well-known Mindfulness teacher, meditation is paying attention in a particular way – on purpose, in the present moment, and without judgment. Being aware in this way, you begin to see your thoughts without reacting to them. It's kind of like watching clouds; whether you like the shapes of the clouds or not, you let them pass (as opposed to getting up and running after the ones you like). Meditation teaches us not to run away with our thoughts, regardless how pleasant or unpleasant they are.
Who is it for?
The great thing about mediation is everyone can do it (and everyone should do it!). Meditation is one of the most simple and accessible practices I know. No stretchy pants, flexible bodies, or expensive shoes are needed. Kids, tweens, teens, adults, retirees – basically everyone – can benefit from meditation.
Benefits
In recent decades, there have been infinite studies on meditation, all citing positive outcomes. This 2,600-year-old practice has been known to decrease stress, relax the nervous system, increase confidence, develop intuition (a.k.a. your gut feeling), and increase compassion and concentration. Imagine, all this without even breaking a sweat! Sounds like a winning practice to me.
Now the big question: HOW?
Imagine a dock, a rowboat, and a river. If you didn't anchor your boat somehow, it would drift away, slowly at best if the river is calm, and quickly if it is active. The dock is the present moment, the boat is your attention, and the river is your thoughts. We anchor the mind in meditation by giving it something to focus on in the present moment, like the breath.
Following your breath may seem vague or abstract, in which case you can sharpen your concentration by silently repeating to yourself “inhaling” when you inhale, and “exhaling” when you exhale. Do this over and over, and when the mind wanders, simply come back to your breath. If you sit for five minutes and you have to bring your mind back a hundred times or didn’t even notice you mind wandered until your timer went off, that’s ok. That’s the practice. Just like you strengthen your muscles by going to the gym, you can begin to strengthen your concentration and awareness with a regular meditation practice.
And more...
You can also explore the different ways to sit comfortably, listen to a handful of guided meditations, and see a list of resources that have helped me, such as free talks by North America’s leading meditation teachers, and book titles.
Onwards and upwards on this journey! What are you waiting for?
