How to Meditate

I started meditating two years ago, and the effects have impacted my life far more than I ever thought were possible.

I think that meditation can help everyone and that everyone should do it every single day. I understand that it’s hard to start and it’s oftentimes framed as “boring.” Certain people may claim that they specifically cannot do it. Others may claim that they’re thinking too much and the thoughts won’t seem to stop. Some may be afraid to sit with their thoughts and feelings for too long because they know something they don’t want to see will eventually reach the surface.

All of these are legitimate concerns, but unfortunately, part of the process.

Meditation isn’t supposed to be easy. But, if you can sit through the boredom, rolling thoughts, and overwhelming emotions for long enough, you’ll hit a point in which the feelings and thoughts stop. Your mind clears and you merely exist.

For just a moment, you are being instead of doing. For just a moment, your body is calm and refreshed. Maybe this moment will last a few seconds, or maybe you’ve gotten it to an hour. The time is irrelevant.

I suppose, in this case, I’ll be talking about Mindfulness Meditation because that is the one I use most frequently.

The more I meditate, the more I am able to bring this clear mindset into everything I do. And the clearer my mind is, the more able I am able to exist in the present moment.

So how exactly does one meditate?

The process is different for everyone, but I personally like to lay down and pretend I am at the top of a mountain that’s overlooking the land. I imagine the sun gently warming up my body as a breeze rolls through the air. I observe the landscape. I let the vastness envelop me.

And I watch the clouds in the sky. Sometimes there are many. Sometimes they’re big and fluffy and othertimes, it looks like there’s going to be a downpour at any moment. The clouds drift by. Some only seem to be there for a moment, while other clouds take much longer to leave.

I don’t try to grab onto any cloud because it’s impossible. They’re merely pockets of water vapor. Nothing more and nothing less. I know intuitively that the clouds will clear eventually to reveal a bright blue sky underneath.

The clouds are my thoughts and emotions. I observe what they look like as they pass by, but don’t let myself grow too attached. Sometimes it starts raining ontop of the mountain. I feel the pounding of the rain on my exposed body. I feel the tears as they flow down my face. But this is okay, water cannot do any harm.

Just as it would be ridiculous to tell the sky not to rain, it would be equally ridiculous to tell yourself not to cry if you need to. The only way the sky can clear up is by letting go of the heavy water vapor in the air. The release is necessary.

Sometimes it even starts lightning and thundering. I feel the anger release from my body like an explosion. Of course, the explosion may hurt for a moment. But, this is only temporary.

It’s not always so bad. Sometimes the clouds are rushing through the sky. They don’t seem to stop. I wait for a while and my mind keeps thinking without my permission. I listen to my thoughts. I give in.

I observe how these thoughts make me feel and where this feeling resides in my body. I start at my toes, scanning up slowly until I’ve reached every part. I notice which parts are tense or in pain and then move on.

My breath is used as a healing force. I concentrate my energy into whatever hurts. I breathe in the air around me and imagine it as a healing bright light going directly to the pain. As I exhale, I let go of the negativity that has been accumulating. I imagine this negativity as a gross green slimy liquid. I want to relase as much as possible and replace it with the healing light.

Eventually the sky clears up, but sometimes it’s not so easy. Certain days have more clouds than others. Other days have none.

Meditation is about sitting with yourself and seeing what comes up. It’s about exisiting in the present moment even if it happens to be uncomfortable for a bit. And the more one practices, the more they’re able to implement meditation into their days without even thinking about it.

The more I meditate, the more I am able to just be in the now. I let the thoughts and feelings come and go because I realize that a blue sky is always waiting underneath. I associate less and less with my thoughts and feelings as I practice more because I realize that I am more than them. Underneath it all, I am a clear mind that’s just observing the moment.

And so, in my everyday life, I experience strong bouts of emotion from time to time. I experience racing thoughts that feel infinite. But, this is okay. My thoughts and feelings cannot hurt me. Just like the clouds, they are like pockets of water vapor floating through the recesses of my mind. I let them be for as long as they need. I try not to react too strongly, only responding when appropriate. And eventually, I return to calm. My mind clears and the sky is blue once again.