Meditation is the act of stilling the mind. Meditation can be practiced in a variety of ways which allows the practitioner to feel a sense of relaxation. Meditation helps with the calming of the mind in any situation. There is a saying that says, “if you want to know how you are feeling, pay attention to where your thoughts go.” Our mind/body/spirit are all connected; thus, if the mind is racing or in high alert, then so is the body and spirit. When the mind can come to a calm state, the rest follows.

Meditation can be done in many forms and in various activities throughout the day. Based on my own practice, I think it is important to note that one of the main reasons people do not meditate is a result of “not having the time.” I think that this notion is a misconception because as a society, we have more time than we think we do, we just have difficulty allocating our time to things that are beneficial for our personal growth. For someone who is looking to start a Meditation practice, I would suggest to those people, to take the time to understand what their motivation is for meditating. I would also suggest that the person do some research on different types of meditation and then pick three and try them for a month’s time. As they are engaging in these new practices, it may be helpful to keep a journal to write down any thoughts or feelings that arise after each practice. Being able to reflect on your experience with a practice helps with knowing if it works for you or if there is a change that needs to be made. Another suggestion for someone who is starting a meditation practice is to meditate in a group setting, since there is accountability, community and support.

The other side of meditation is coming into the practice with preconceived expectations but being open to the possibilities of modifying those expectations based on what you need for your lifestyle. Meditation also encourages the ability to be present with yourself and the journey you are on to discover yourself, thus letting go of thoughts about who and what you should be doing. Meditation is a practice and a daily commitment to yourself to help create a life that is the best representation of who you were always meant to become.