Meditation – If I Can Do It, So Can You!

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Often used excuses for not meditating:

No time
Don’t know how
Can’t sit still
Can’t “settle” my mind

I have overcome all of this and then some. How did I do it? Practice. A daily meditation practice is just that.

However, I will be the first one to admit that I am not perfect (overcoming does not equal perfection). Are there days where I can’t focus and my mind wonders? Yes, even after a year of practicing under my belt. Are there days where I am pressed for time? Yes, but I still make the time as this is a way for me to control my anxiety.

There are many different forms of mediation that are practiced by many different cultures and religions. I found a really comprehensive list here. I have researched many different kinds and have found that I like Zen meditation the best. I didn’t even realize I was practicing Zen at first until I read about it more.

Here is what a typical mediation session is like for me:

Find a quiet place in house.
Get my meditation cushion.
Sit on cushion – generally is some sort of a comfortable cross-legged position. (If that is not possible for you, a sturdy chair works just as well.)
Close my eyes.
I then do one or a combination of the following:

Allow my thoughts to come and go as I act as a spectator of them.
Visualize my “calm/happy” place.

I generally mediate after my daily exercise routine for about 5-10 minutes. I also try to meditate for about 5-10 minutes sometime in the evening but that doesn’t always work out to well. Some how life seems to always get in the way.

There is a lot of great literature out there on meditation as well as courses and various audio instructions, some of which I plan to review on this blog stay tuned. I also have a yoga center near me that offers a monthly group guided meditation session. I used to attend very regularly but now I only go when I can’t settle my mind as the group setting can be very therapeutic.

That’s it – easy stuff! Now you try and tell me how you make out.