Starting Out

Most of us find that we need help edging toward meditation. Any new practice can be daunting at first especially when we have no idea how to settle enough to give it a fair try.

Many new students tell me they tried but found they “can’t meditate.”  That changed after learning a few simple steps that allow them to give it a fair try.

Let’s look at a few of those supportive techniques, bringing them all together here for your convenience.

Quieting Comes First

An audio blog available on this website discusses techniques for quieting our mind by moving to a single focus. It also includes a practice for grounding and centering ourselves in our physical body.  The audio blog can be accessed HERE.

Techniques contained in that Blog are beneficial for everything we do in life, not just meditation.  Without the ability to quiet, it’s even difficult to make a clear-sighted, well-informed decision.

Once we learn how to be quieter, it’s easier to face challenges that arise in our daily lives.

Releasing Stress

Speaking of challenges, a recent Blog also on this website shares a simple breathing technique for reducing anxiety & stress. It helps in the quieting of our mental chatter and can be done at any time. See that technique HERE.

Sitting With Ourselves

TIP:  Our busy lives rarely give us much opportunity to just be quietly with ourselves. Alone. Although it sounds odd, we do need to get familiar with that feeling.

Start out with five minutes once a day. Step away from others into a private spot. Just sit or stand quietly. If thoughts tumble through, let them. This is about being alone with ourselves.

After a few days, add another five minutes to the day. Then, after a few weeks, you are ready to become acquainted with meditating. After all, you’re almost there already!

Our Screen Door

Now you feel ready to try a short meditation but wonder if the intent is to shut down all thoughts.

That alone might prevent us from getting into this life-affirming practice.

No, the initial intent is not to shut out all thoughts. That may come in time but no need to expect it in early stages of practice.

But we do want them to flow through without capturing and holding our attention. This is where our screen door helps.

• Visualize a screen door in your mind
• It can be any style you prefer: modern or an old-fashioned wood frame
• Make sure it has screen mesh in it
• Each time a thought rises, let it blow through the screen just like a breeze

Your Comments & Questions

Sharing your experiences and questions about early steps of Edging Toward Meditation will benefit everyone. A convenient Comment section is below.