Meditation
Practical methods for the people who think they cannot sit still and the people who have been sitting for years.
The most common reason people give up on meditation is that they cannot stop their thoughts. They sit down, try to be still, notice their mind going everywhere at once, and conclude that they are doing it wrong or are simply not suited for it.
Neither is true. Meditation is not the absence of thought. It is the practice of noticing where your attention has gone and returning it to your chosen anchor. Every time you notice and return, you have done the practice correctly. The wandering is not the failure. The wandering is the material.
The writing here covers meditation for beginners and for experienced practitioners. Walking meditation, seated meditation, five-minute methods, and the difference between meditation and mindfulness. If you have tried before and stopped, something here may be the reason to try a different way. If you have been practicing for years, something here may offer a new angle on familiar ground.
All Meditation Posts
The Five-Minute Morning Practice That Actually Holds
Most morning routines collapse by week two. This one starts small enough to survive a difficult Tuesday.
Read →How to Meditate When You Cannot Sit Still
The instruction to sit still can be the exact reason you give up. Here is what to do instead.
Read →Beyond the Breath: Five Meditation Anchors That Actually Work
Not everyone can meditate by watching the breath. Here are five other ways to practice attention.
Read →What I Learned From 30 Days of Walking Meditation
Walking meditation is not just meditation while walking. It is a completely different way of paying attention.
Read →Meditation vs Mindfulness: The Difference Actually Matters
These words are used interchangeably. They are not the same, and knowing the difference changes how you practice.
Read →Still Enough: 6 Meditation Methods
Six complete meditation approaches for different minds, moods, and moments. Including three that do not require sitting still at all.
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