Meditation often gets misunderstood as a way to quiet the mind through sheer force—a struggle to silence thoughts and achieve immediate calm. But true meditation, rooted in comfortable stillness, is much gentler. It’s not about battling your thoughts or feelings but allowing them to come and go with ease.
Here are three key tips to help you soften into the practice:
- Consistency is Key: Five minutes daily is more beneficial than 50 minutes once a week. Small, regular moments of stillness create a lasting impact.
- Make It Comfy: Meditation isn’t about suffering. If you’re uncomfortable, adjust. Scratch the itch. Move the leg that’s going numb.
- You’re Not Getting Rid of Anything: Thoughts, emotions, and sensations don’t need to disappear. Allow them to be there without judgment. Allow yourself to simply be.
Here’s a visual that may help: imagine your mind as a mountain. The baseline of the mountain is stable and unchanging, even as life swirls around it. Wind rustles through the trees, birds come and go, animals roam, and clouds pass by. These movements don’t diminish the mountain’s presence—they’re part of its natural rhythm. Similarly, meditation helps you connect with your steady inner core while letting the activity of your mind flow around you without resistance.