Meditation classes, gurus, books and more have inundated the scene as a cure-all recipe for mindfulness and self-control. There must be something to it, right? It can seem a bit overwhelming to just jump right in when there appear to be so many different versions of how to do it the "right way." Something I found on my own inner journey is that the right way is what makes you feel most relaxed, uninhibited, comfortable and ready for the spectacular adventure that awaits when you're set to surrender. Once you start the path, you'll find more flow in your daily life as well as that voice in the back of your head that guides you intuitivetly along the way. It will grow louder and you'll be able to more easily identify what feels right for you as you act to fulfill your dreams and desires. Your intuition will come bubbling forth like a babbling brook if you put some time into the practice evey day. Just like anything, practice makes perfect so commit to getting to know yourself in a deeper way and you'll be seeing signs everywhere before you know it. The following are a few tips on how to sharpen those skills and a bit of anecdotal seasoning to show you what's possible. 1. Start SmallAt the beginning of any new pratice, you can't go in expecting to be an automatic expert. Meditation is like learning any new skill. If you keep your approach simple and realistic from the beginning, you're more likely to stick to it. As you keep showing up to practice, you'll start noticing how much you've improved. Your natural state of mind will become more peaceful, your inner journeys will become more insightful and you will enjoy meditating for longer periods of time. The first time I meditated, my time limit was five minutes. That may almost not seem like it was worth it, but you wouldn't believe how slowly those minutes passed. I could barely sit still for five minutes in waking life, let alone carve out a corner to spend them in immobile silence. The entire first week, I kept the time limit to five minutes. By the end, I could say that during five consecutive days, I had managed to keep up the practice. The next week, a full 10-minute period of meditative silence was the goal. I confess, I stayed there for a couple of months before jumping up to the 15-minute mark. It's a process afterall, getting used to tuning everything out, merging with the stillness. As any skill, regular practice is needed to maintain the proficieny. In busier moments, sometimes I don't manage to set aside the time to meditate, but once I come back, I often need to revert to a prior developmental stage until I am again able to practice with ease. The point is, set a small goal first and work your way up to stick with it long enough to see the benefits everyone raves about. Bonus tip: Start with guided meditations to get used to relaxing into a state of stillness. A quick search for guided meditations will give you tons of options. Pick the one that resonates with you and don't be afraid to try a few until you find a guide and a vibe that make you comfortable. 2. Set Your IntentionsMeditation is a way to access an entire universe within. There is boundless knowledge you can tap into to guide you along your path. You can ask any question and you will receive an answer, but you must ask the question. While you can leave the experience open-ended, it becomes more difficult to apply what you've learned if you can't nail down what specifically the information is referring to. It can be a broad question, but you'll get the best results if you have some parameter for the experience, or intention. Your intention can be anything you want to manifest, understand more clearly, areas where you would like to grow, the universe is the limit. Write it down before you meditate to crystallize the intention, leaving it there while you clear your mind during the meditative practice. Aside from an intention, I usually write a line of gratitude as well. Any action involving the soul will be amplified when it's done with gratitude. An attitude of gratitude is also the quickest way to manifest more of that for which one is thankful. |
Samantha LewisTarot readings are a fantastic tool to examine your life and all of the influences at work. With this knowledge of self and setting you can consciously move toward the path of greatest growth and self-realization. Here we explore recurring themes in the human experience and practices to promote self-care. In becoming more attuned to our own vibes we can consciously create a better space that benefits everyone. Archives
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