Practice meditation every day, as stress doesn’t take days off, and consistent engagement provides a vital outlet for daily pressures, benefiting both physical and mental health.
Shift your perception of meditation from an obligation to an enjoyable activity, as people happily make time for things they enjoy, which is key to sustaining the habit.
Change your attitude from viewing your mind as an enemy to seeing it as an ally, recognizing that thoughts are a natural pathway to inner peace and stillness, not an obstacle.
Sit comfortably with back support, like you’re watching television, rather than in a rigid or austere position, to achieve a quieter and deeper meditation experience without causing more mental activity.
To effectively learn meditation mechanics and principles, work with an experienced teacher rather than just a guide or relying on a do-it-yourself approach, to avoid wasting time and ensure a strong practice.
Dedicate 15-20 minutes to meditation first thing in the morning, before coffee or breakfast, as this is the easiest time to manage and provides clean energy and awareness for the day.
Celebrate every thought you have during meditation, viewing them as the ‘sweat of meditation’ and a legitimate part of the experience, which helps the mind naturally settle and enhances your practice.
Engage in daily meditation to achieve a state of rest for your body systems that is 2-5 times deeper than sleep, helping to overcome stress chemistry and promote rehabilitation.
Recognize that seated, eyes-closed meditation uniquely stabilizes present moment awareness beyond the practice itself, leading to increased energy and reduced reactivity in daily life.
Understand that the four pillars of health (food, movement, sleep, relaxation) interact; strengthening one, like relaxation through meditation, can provide leeway and improve outcomes in other areas.
If you are a beginner or struggle with consistency, start with shorter meditation periods (e.g., two minutes) daily to build the habit, gradually increasing duration as you experience benefits.
Consider exploring Vedic meditation, the style taught by Light Watkins, which emphasizes principles and mechanics to help you learn how to meditate effectively.
Read Light Watkins’ book ‘Bliss More’ and utilize its free 21-day meditation challenge to gain a strong foundational practice and understand the principles and mechanics of meditation.
Utilize meditation apps as a valid ‘on-ramp’ to practice or for tracking consistency, especially if you’re new, but avoid long-term dependence as they are not ideal for learning or disconnecting from technology.
Do not practice this type of meditation just before bed, as it provides clean energy and heightened awareness, which is best used at the beginning of your day.
Recognize that your mindset significantly influences how food affects your body, so cultivating a positive and informed approach to eating can enhance its benefits.
Seek out or create alcohol-free social community events that offer inspiration, live music, and meaningful talks to foster connection and well-being.
Consider engaging in small-scale philanthropy, such as giving a modest amount of money to someone to help others, to realize that significant impact doesn’t require immense wealth.