{"id":705,"date":"2019-09-20T15:32:32","date_gmt":"2019-09-20T15:32:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heartlycenter.com\/?p=705"},"modified":"2019-09-21T04:01:14","modified_gmt":"2019-09-21T04:01:14","slug":"meditation-a-tool-for-happiness-or-an-exercise-in-frustration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heartlycenter.com\/index.php\/2019\/09\/20\/meditation-a-tool-for-happiness-or-an-exercise-in-frustration\/","title":{"rendered":"Meditation: A Tool For Happiness or An Exercise in Frustration?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

3 Great Tips to Turn Your Meditation into a Rewarding Experience!<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When I first started meditating over 20 years ago, it was anything but fulfilling! I would make time in my calendar, sit down and \u201ctry\u201d to meditate. I would get uncomfortable trying to hold the same still position, my mind would be full of thoughts and chatter, and I would feel frustrated and unfulfilled when it was over. Can you relate to that?<\/em> Meditation certainly didn\u2019t live up to its reputation of a centering, peaceful, rejuvenating experience. I was ready to throw in the towel! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Fortunately, I didn\u2019t! <\/strong>I kept exploring meditation and my relationship with it through workshops, and even multiple-day silent retreats. Over time, my investment paid off<\/em>. I found various tools that have worked for me, and my experience\u00a0 of meditation has been richly rewarding ever since. In fact, meditation has become my favorite means of staying centered and feeling that I am in the flow. It has become the foundation of my daily spiritual practice and something that greatly feeds my Soul and supports my ability to live \u201cHappy to Be ME!\u201d\u00a9. Hallelujah!<\/strong>
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I\u2019d like to help you create a similar relationship with and fulfilling practice of meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip # 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let go of preconceived notions of what meditation is and isn\u2019t.\u00a0 These ideas about how you \u201cdo\u201d meditation and what is \u201csupposed\u201d to happen when you meditate, may be making it impossible for you to have a personal and relevant experience of yourself meditating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, there are \u201ctechniques\u201d and some of them have specific postures and durations associated with them. But it\u2019s not necessary to start with those forms of meditation. You can simply start by taking a break in a busy day, closing your eyes, and following your breath. That gave me a great start. I let go of the things-to-do list, and for a few lovely moments, was quietly with me. In \u201cTrue Meditation,\u201d Zen Master Adyashanti advises that our attitude is key to our meditation experience. \u201cWe need to come to meditation in a way that is fresh and innocent.\u201d<\/em> In other words, let go of the list of ideas and expectations you have and start with a totally clean slate.
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Tip #2<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Give up \u201ctrying to meditate.\u201d If you are trying to do anything while you\u2019re meditating, you\u2019re defeating the purpose of meditating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The point here is to let go of doing altogether. The act of meditating is the only act. You\u2019re not trying to control the body or stop thought. When you\u2019re doing this manipulating and controlling in meditation, you\u2019re actually resisting what is. When you\u2019re in resistance, you cannot feel peaceful and you cannot quiet the mind or body.\u00a0 It\u2019s in allowing yourself to release your resistance that you are able to feel the calm <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0 You simply sit and allow everything that happens to happen. Eventually, the body rests and the mind goes quiet. The more often you meditate, the more the body and mind get into a rhythm of releasing and quieting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip #3<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Commit to creating a practice. The experience of meditation and the benefits derived from meditating deepen and expand over time. David Fontana, author of \u201cLearn to Meditate:\u00a0 A Practical Guide to Self-Discovery and Fulfillment\u201d says \u201cmeditation is a path without end.\u201d When you can engage in the practice without expectation and keep engaging with an open heart and mind, the experience expands and deepens, no matter where you start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I meditate for 30-60 minutes daily and also integrate 2-5 minute mini sits whenever I feel the need to decompress or boost focus, energy or inspiration. If every day feels daunting to you at first, choose a different frequency. If 20 or 30 minutes feels out of the question, sit for 10 or 15 minutes instead. Be intuitively guided; you don\u2019t need to figure it out on your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many apps you can download to your phone with free guided meditations. The app I use is called Insight Timer<\/a>, and I love, love, love it! There are something like 25,000 free, guided meditations to choose from, PLUS<\/em> a timer to use for crafting your own sit. You can also upgrade to premium to take short, enriching courses offered by the experts themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The key is to get started and keep going! <\/strong>\u00a0Once you integrate these three tips, any meditation technique you invest in will become easier for you. In fact, I\u2019ll bet that over time, despite current appearances to the contrary, you will soon discover the Master Meditator that is already within you! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are interested in pursuing this more deeply, check out my FREE Happy to Be ME! Guided MeditationCollection<\/strong>. Fill out the form below to receive a link to the free download. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay well and BE happy!
Valerie <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
P.S.<\/em><\/strong> In case you\u2019re wondering if I ever have mind chatter, a fidgety body, or don\u2019t feel like I went that deep, the answer is yes<\/em>. I just allow and accept every meditation as perfect, exactly as it is.\u00a0 And<\/em><\/strong>, I keep meditating every day. <\/p>\n\n\n
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