There most regular comment I get in regards to meditation is “I just cannot stop thinking.” You are not alone! And you do not need to stop thinking to be meditating, you just need the discipline to sit your butt down, every day, and do it!

For me meditation began by doing just that, just sitting. From here I began to formally meditate by focusing my attention on my breath, continuing to bring it back each and every damn time my mind dragged it away to some other place. This will happen a lot, the thinking….in fact some days you will just sit there and think. Don’t despair, the good stuff does come. Over time you are able to watch yourself thinking, you begin to understand that you are so much more than your thoughts, you are the observer of the thoughts. All this space opens up within and around you and you discover a stillness, and eventually a deep peace. Sounds good? Read on!

To begin –

1. Set a time, set a place, and sit your butt down to meditate for 5 minutes. That’s it. My choice of meditation is focusing on the breath, so for these 5 minutes you will try your hardest to keep your attention on the breath. There are different types of meditation, however this is what has worked for me so this is what I share. If it doesn’t work for you after 3 months, look around for other types and find one that does work.
2. Keep doing it. You will get frustrated, your body will hurt, your mind will race. Just keep doing it. No matter what, stick to your 5 minutes each day. Play around with different times, I find morning is best as my mind is quiet, and so is the world around me. However if this doesn’t work for you find a time that does.
3. Tell the people you live with what you are doing, tell them you will be unavailable for 5 minutes (The conversation may go something like…”come on, it’s 5 minutes, you can survive without me for 5 minutes!”).

You may like to use a timer, these apps have been helpful to me as they have silent meditations where a bell rings, as well as some lead meditations.

Calm App – Itunes & Mindfulness App – Itunes

Or you could use this lead meditation to get you started. This can be good in creating the habit of getting up and taking your seat, once you are in the habit loose the lead meditation and go it alone.

What NOT to expect –

1. Levitation. Transcendental experiences. Nirvana/Samadhi. Let’s be honest, down to earth, and just admit to ourselves we are (most probably) not going to become enlightened in this lifetime, and that’s ok. Meditation will make you a better person, it will stop you from saying and doing things you will later regret. It will take away the feeling that life is just all too much, and time is going way too fast. For me this is as good as it gets. When I meditate I get to live my best life, and I am the best version of myself.
2. Fast results. This will take time, patience and dedication. It may take you a month, 6 months or even a year to notice a difference in your sitting practice, but the wait will be worth it. What did your Mum used to tell you ‘Good things come to those who wait’? It’s the truth, nothing good comes easy and meditation is no different.
3. Every meditation to be the same. Some days when you sit, it will be boring. Or worse, your mind will cling onto any thought that passes by, and you will keep getting lost on little journeys of your own making. But some days will leave you floating, others will leave you with a sense of quiet contentment all day long. Every time you sit can be a different experience. There will be weeks of average meditations, then one day you will be hit with a beautiful quiet mind and open heart. It’s a direct reflection of your mind, and your life. So watch carefully.

Happy Sitting, may you all experience peace, calm and contentment. Alicia xxx