5 Things About Meditation You May Not Know
Like the idea of meditation but think you’d be bad at it? Here are 5 things to know about how meditation is for everyone.
By Michael James Wong
Credit: @yogaandphoto
Have you wanted to try meditation but have been put off because you think you’d be bad at it? If you have, that’s okay. Trying new things can be daunting and a lot of the time our ego kicks in and wants to instantly be good at things. However, meditation is such a simple practice that you can incorporate into your everyday lives that there’s nothing to worry about - you can just dive straight in.
We asked our founder and meditation teacher Michael James Wong to share the 5 things he thinks everyone should know about meditation.
1. There’s no such thing as a bad meditation
Meditation is an opportunity to pause. There’s no right or wrong, good or bad. Oftentimes, people get frustrated because they sit down to meditate with the expectation that their mind should be emptier than a politician’s promise, but in reality clearing the mind is not always possible. Thoughts will come and go, and that’s okay - it is natural that our minds want to wander. Just bring yourself back to the present moment when you notice this has happened.
2. You can’t ‘win’ meditation
Just like you can’t win brushing your teeth or taking a shower, you can’t do one meditation practice and say “meditation? Nailed it.” The beauty of meditating it can become an ongoing part of your daily or weekly self-care routine. There’s no competition involved or levels to unlock, just lovely moments of quiet.
3. There are lots of types to try
There are so many different types of meditation out there - guided, visualisation, mantra, loving kindness etc. Not all styles are going to suit you, and that’s okay - you can just explore which ones suit you best and roll with those.
4. You don’t need to close your eyes to meditate
While sitting down, closing your eyes and focusing on your breath can be a lovely way to meditate, it’s not the only way. Any moment where you’re not doing anything but present and aware in the moment, that is meditation. We become so plugged in to our devices and so driven to being busy and doing stuff, that not doing can be hard. So take it slowly - just allow yourself to sit for a few moments, find some quiet and see what happens.
5. Meditation is a choice to prioritise your health; mental, physical, emotional and energetic
Last but definitely not least, allowing yourself a few moments to meditate each day is a choice to prioritise your health in all aspects. While we take care of our bodies with nourishing food and water, it’s important that we fuel our minds too. Most of us are happy to spend time exercising and thinking about what we put in and on our bodies, but we don’t dedicate the time to create space for our minds. Meditation is the perfect opportunity to do this - it’s a moment to reflect on how you feel, check in with what your body needs, and allows you to create some space for yourself to just be.
It’s okay if it takes a few times to get into it - just allow yourself to give it a go, see what happens and enjoy the quiet journey.
Not sure where to start?
Download the Just Breathe app to begin your exploration of meditation, guided by our Founder Michael James Wong. You can start simple with just 2 minutes of meditation a day and see how it works for you. Available on Apple and Android, just search for ‘Just Breathe’ in the app store.
MICHaEL jaMES WONG
Michael is a community activist, writer, educator and meditation teacher, he is regarded as a leading voice in the global movement for modern mindfulness. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, raised in Los Angeles, California and is now living in London, his greatest joy in life is building and celebrating strong and meaningful communities. Michael is also the Founder of Just Breathe.
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