How Do You Meditate Best?

Meditate Daily for a Healthy Mind

Meditation is much more than just sitting in lotus position, saying “OM”. In fact, I venture to guess that’s the exception, not the rule. For me it often involves at least one cat, and a fleece blanket on my lap. The cat usually drives the whole process by letting me know just where they want to be scratched, how they want to lay on my body absorbing my warmth, and how active my participation in his comfort or her comfort has to be in order to make it a proper meditation… for them

Though I’ve tried meditating in many places, I’ve learned meditating inside the house with a cat on my lap is always my best option. Between their warm bodies, their purrs, and their snuggles, I seem to relax and let my brain turn off for a little while far better for their assistance.

Granted, some of my cats are better meditation assistants than others. It seems my boys are always calmer, and willing to curl up on my lap or in the crook of my arm while purring my monkey mind into submission. Ishtar and Artemis tend to be little wiggle worms who can’t quite find the right position, and require more petting before they jump down to do laps around the house. Occasionally, Ishy will lay on the back of the sofa and purr, but I have to catch her in just the right mood…preferably after she’s finished her morning zoomies.

Settle That Monkey Mind!

Over the years, I’ve utilized a variety of methods for calming my mind and allowing my body to fully relax. I’ve learned no one method works every time. Sometimes, I need to turn on ambient music (no running water, or tinkling piano keys please), or light a candle to hold my focus. Even so, there are times my monkey mind won’t settle, no matter how many bananas I toss it. At those times, I might need a more active meditation like dancing or cleaning house (as much as I hate cleaning, it’s often a great way to numb my mind).

Much like shielding, you have to discover what works best for you, knowing one method isn’t going to work all the time unless you’re a zen master and can still your mind at will. Starting with a minute or two, and working your way up often helps you train your mind to let go. It’s a lot like training your physical muscles. You’re not able to do a 5-mile hike, or press 50 pounds all at once. You have to work up to it, training your muscles and your stamina to accept the larger efforts gradually.

The challenges of daily life, the endless To Do lists, interacting with other people…they all make it difficult to still your mind for any length of time. Like your physical muscles, your mental muscles can be trained as long as you relax your expectations, and push only a little further than is comfortable. In time, you’ll be able to keep your mind still for longer periods…most of the time.

Mitigate Your Stress With Daily Meditation

The conundrum is, the more stressful your life is, the more you need meditation, and the harder it is to still your mind. But if you’ve been practicing when things weren’t as stressful, it’s a lot easier to continue the practice. Granted, you may only be able to keep your mind still for a few minutes, instead of the amount of time you’ve become accustomed to. But like a physical workout, a short meditation is better than none.

Even so, you might find when things are more stressful, you need something extra to help you still your mind. For me, it’s the ambient music I mentioned, or a guided meditation. Either one helps grab a piece of my wandering mind that’s trying to either obsess over something, or hack away at my To Do list while I’m trying to focus on the Now, and what is before me in the moment. It creates that little, extra reminder that the only thing I can deal with is what is necessary in the current moment. Everything else is just noise keeping me from laser focusing on the here and now.

It took me what seems like eons to realize no matter what is going on in my life, I can only manage the current moment, and no matter how overwhelming my life might be, I’m neither able, nor need to deal with it all at once. In fact, when I break things down into what needs to be dealt with right now, and what doesn’t, I am better able to focus on each, individual task or problem without outside interference. Not once have I effectively dealt with anything when I’m overwhelmed by trying to consume a full plate at once.

Like rest, meditation isn’t a reward. It’s a necessary part of your life which helps you manage that plate which never seems to empty. It allows you to put things into perspective, and maybe even realize some of the things overwhelming you aren’t that important after all. Some might not even be yours to deal with, and should be released to whoever they truly belong to. But you’re not going to figure it out while your brain is racing at 1000 miles per hour, trying to process everything at once. Even a computer needs to handle tasks one at a time, if at a much faster, and less emotional speed than your brain!

Guided Meditations to Still the Monkey Mind

If you’re new to meditation, and think it might be the next step in your much-deserved self-care ritual, here are a few methods I’ve tried over the years which might help you. And remember. Start with a minute, or even 30 seconds, because stilling the mind doesn’t typically come naturally.

• Get into a comfortable position in a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted
• Focus on the flame of a lit candle
• Find ambient music on YouTube, or another music app, making sure it doesn’t have elements which wind you up rather than allowing you to relax.
• Find a guided meditation audio either on YouTube, or on a website which offers them. There are a few you can even download for free.
  • Tara Brach is one.
  • UCLA Mindful is another.
  • A purring cat is also a guided meditation in its own right!
• Remind yourself before you start that you deserve to have a few minutes to yourself when you’re not worried, stressed, or busy.

I’d love to hear from some of you who already have a meditation routine. What works for you? How long do you meditate? Where do you meditate typically? What helps you calm your mind when life is especially insane?

Meditation as a Form of Gratitude to Self

My gratitudes today are:

1. I’m grateful for learning I deserve me time.
2. I’m grateful for taking the time to learn how to meditate effectively.
3. I’m grateful for my cats (especially my boys) who are always on hand to help me get into a meditative state.
4. I’m grateful for blog posts which seem to write themselves.
5. I’m grateful for a life that’s lower in stress thanks to daily meditations.

About the Author

Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful. In her spare time, she’s also an accountant with extensive experience in Government Contracting.