What Do You Do When You Meditate?

Unraveling the Mystery: What Really Happens in Meditation?

Ah, meditation – it’s like that friend everyone tells you to meet, promising it’ll change your life. But once you’re introduced, you’re left wondering, “What do I even do with you?” If you’ve ever tried closing your eyes and ended up compiling grocery lists in your head, you’re not alone. So, let’s demystify this ancient practice and turn those question marks into enlightened exclamation points!

The Basics: Setting the Stage for Tranquility

First thing’s first: find your spot. It doesn’t have to be atop a mountain at sunrise (unless you’re into that sort of thing). Any quiet corner where you won’t be disturbed will do just fine. Sit down, be it on a cushion or chair, just ensure your back isn’t impersonating a question mark.

The Breath: Your Internal Anchor

Now, here’s the scoop: meditation isn’t about turning off your thoughts or fighting them like some epic gladiator duel. It’s about noticing, like you’re the world’s most chill observer. And your trusty sidekick in this venture? Your breath.

• Step One: Take a deep inhale, feeling your chest and belly rise like a tide.
• Step Two: Exhale slowly, imagining stress melting away faster than ice cream in July.
• Step Three: Repeat, but this time, try to notice everything about your breath – its temperature, texture, and the slight pause between each inhale and exhale.

Your Mind: The Wild Stallion

Here’s where it gets gnarly. Your mind, that untamed beast, will try to run off—plotting your escape from this quietude or replaying that cringe-worthy moment from five years ago. And that’s A-OK. The trick isn’t to lasso it back forcefully but to gently guide it back to your breath, every single time it wanders.

Advanced Techniques: Not Just Sitting Pretty

Once you’ve got the hang of breathing (you’ve been practicing your whole life, after all!), you might want to spice things up. Here’s where meditation gets its colorful plumage.

• Mantra Meditation: Pick a word or phrase that resonates with you. Repeat it silently with each breath. It’s like giving your mind a chew toy.
• Guided Visualization: Imagine a scene that brings you peace—perhaps a sunny beach or a cozy cabin. Populate it with details. What does it smell like? What sounds do you hear? This is your mental spa day.
• Mindfulness Meditation: This is taking the observer role to Broadway level. Engage fully with the present moment, noting sensations, thoughts, and emotions without judgment. Easier said than done, but practice makes progress.

The Afterglow: What Comes Next?

Don’t just pop up and rush into life’s buzz. Take a moment. How do you feel? Perhaps a tad more spacious, a smidge calmer? Meditation isn’t about achieving some dazzled state of bliss but rather, about fostering a deep-seated peace that you can carry into the tumult of daily life.

In essence, meditation is akin to befriending yourself, quirks and all. It’s a journey inward, marked not by the miles but by the breath. So, the next time you sit down to meditate, remember, it’s not about doing something monumental. It’s about being – fully, deeply, authentically. And who knows? You might just find that in the quiet spaces between thoughts, you discover whispers of your truest self.