That’s a wrap! After six weeks of Learn to Meditate, last night I finished up with another cohort of beginner meditators, and as always, everyone took away what they needed for them.
Most people who come to me for meditation guidance aren’t complete newbies; they’ve dabbled on their own for a time before throwing up their ‘prayer hands’ in complete frustration.
“I can’t meditate!” is such a common exasperation.
But it doesn’t need to be.
While some meditation traditions claim their prescription is the perfect one, I disagree.
That’s why, as well as teaching the “hows”—how meditation works to relax the body and calm the mind—we explore several techniques that are not just “focus on your breath and come back whenever you become distracted.”
Though, that one is excellent, too.
In this latest cohort, I even had an experienced meditator who’d been practising for a couple of decades. She reminded me that as meditators, we are always beginners, and the quality of “beginner’s mind” is one to be protected.
So, even if you’re an advanced meditator, here are 5 revelations and lightbulb moments from newbie meditators to help bring you back to your beginner’s mind.
1. You don’t have to make your mind blank
“The biggest revelation for me was that thinking is allowed in meditation. As a perfectionist, I can feel guilty for having thoughts, or beat myself up for not “doing it right.” I now know it’s truly okay to have thoughts and I don’t have to be so vigilant about cutting them off when they appear. I can decide which ones to let go a bit and which ones not to entertain.”
2. The 30-second spot meditation is achievable and works
“I thought to have an established meditation practice meant I’d have to find 30 minutes or an hour every day and a quiet room. I now know I can do spot meditations while I’m on the go. I can use waiting time to meditate instead of picking up my phone.”
3. Labelling is a game-changer
“Labelling sounds, thoughts, and emotions helps put a full stop to them. I can stop my racing mind simply by labelling thoughts as thinking, or noise as sound. I can regulate my emotions by naming what they are. At times, my mind can be like a mouse in a maze, so it’s nice to have a break from that chaos. Labelling is game-changing for me.”
4. Mantra meditation feels surprisingly good
“I was surprised to find that I enjoy chanting! The resonance and vibrations you feel through your body are pleasant and calming. I also love that the settling sound is in Sanskrit, so I don’t get caught up in thinking about what it means. I want to give this one more of a go.”
5. Intermittent focusing is a relief
“It’s a relief to know I only have to focus on my breath, or sounds, or whatever, intermittently for meditation to work. If I get distracted by thinking, it’s no big deal as long as I’m focusing on my senses some of the time.”
So, what do you think? Are any of these revelations game-changing for you, too?
