For many years I’d tried to meditate, because I’d read of its many benefits. However, I constantly had the feeling that it wasn’t working for me. I was convinced that I had to get rid of all my thoughts, but this was impossible at best. Every time I sat down to meditate, my mind bombarded me with them—as if to spite me.

Years later, during a course on Eastern philosophy, I learned about various meditation techniques. I was surprised to find that meditation was not at all what I’d initially thought it to be. It turned out that it’s actually about focusing on the here and now. This includes thoughts that inevitably pass through the mind.

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What are the benefits of meditation?

Above all, mindful meditation has allowed me to be with myself and the world around me just as it is and just as I am.

I learned to fully accept and not judge myself and everything around me.

I’m more calm and balanced, and find it easier to get back to those states when I inevitably do lose my cool.

I learned to release expectations of myself and the outside world.

I found the courage and confidence to be dispassionate in the best sense of the word! It’s a nonattachment to transient things—bad and good emotions or events.

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What is meditation?

Meditation isn’t about being in a specific position or closing your eyes.

Meditation is a soothing of the mind involving focusing on thoughts, emotions, and breath. It’s a training of the mind in observation—observing your own thoughts, emotions, breath, body sensations.

It helps to calm the mind, connect with the body and the world by stimulating attentiveness.

It’s noticing. What is happening internally? What is happening around me? It’s about making conscious the many aspects we’ve made unconscious.

It’s a path to experiencing life consciously and accepting what is.

It’s a way to self-understanding and tranquility.

It’s being present. Truly in it, whatever is happening, no matter how I’d assess it—good or bad. Just being here and now. Open to it all. Accepting of it all.

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Reasons to meditate

We live in a time of hustle and busines, many responsibilities, chasing deadlines…

Perpetually overstimulated, we forget to truly relax, get quiet, and understand ourselves, which are important elements leading to feelings of happiness and inner peace.

There is no more valuable relationship than the one you have with yourself! Meditation helps nurture it by providing distance from the self and the emotions of everyday life.

Focusing on these seemingly small things allows you to build intimacy with your own mind.

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“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”

THICH NHAT HANH

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Practice

Take a moment for a short meditation.

Sit or stand or lie down—whatever is comfortable and possible. Make sure your spine is fairly straight and you’re not slumping. Relax your shoulders.

If you can, close your eyes.

Focus on your breath. Notice the in breath and the out breath.

Keep your attention on your full breath. Notice how the body moves when you breathe in and when you breathe out. Notice the short pause before each inhalation and exhalation.

When your minds starts to wander, return to the breath.

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Reflect

How was your practice?

What did you notice about your mind?

What did you notice about your breath?

What did you notice in your body?

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