I discussed meditation in a blog a few weeks ago. It is such a life-changing yet misunderstood practice that I want to explore the subject further.

“Refuse to let go and you are a person drowning; the more you struggle, the faster you sink.” George Ohsawa

Meditation allows you to let go of the struggle with unwanted negative thoughts. Regular practice will not only allow you peace in the moment, but it will literally re-condition your mind to be less inclined to hold on to negativity. It is also the perfect preparation for doing positive affirmations.

When you have a problem, there is a temptation to focus on it and talk endlessly to others about it in the hope of finding a solution. This is the way many of us have become used to dealing with the issues in our lives. But this doesn’t work. Because of the powerful Law of Attraction, focusing on what you don’t want simply summons more of the same.

What does work is to turn you attention on to something else that makes you feel good. However, switching your attention from what feels like a problem to a good-feeling subject can be difficult. Meditation is a good tool to distract yourself into a better feeling. The process stops thought and allow your natural feeling of well-being to return. Solutions to problems will come to you, often in surprising ways.

There are so many different opinions on what is the best way to meditate: chant this mantra, focus on that symbol, hold a certain posture, sit in a chair, sit cross-legged, listen to music, sit in silence… With all these mixed ideas of which one is ‘the best’ it is clear to me that there is much confusion! You will be guided to the perfect meditation technique for you.

Meditation for me simply means silencing the chatter of the mind. I started off using repetitive, non-intrusive background music (you can get this kind of music from the New Age section in bookshops) and setting a timer for 20 minutes. In the beginning, I felt restless and a little bored. But I sat there until the time was up.  

After many weeks of meditating every morning, I reached the place of what I call an Inner Bliss; a sort of nurturing void where I had stopped thinking for a few moments.

Meditation requires committed practice and it can be easy to just give up or ‘miss a day or two’. It has been said that it takes 30 days to form a new habit, so keep on going!

The more often you meditate, the easier it will be to return to that place of inner stillness and the easier your life will become.  

We may have been criticised by parents or teachers in the early part of our lives and often this becomes our own habit which affects us even today. We end up thinking we are not good enough or there is something wrong with us and many areas of our life can suffer. 

But all ‘that stuff’ happened to us a long time ago- and it is over. Now, it is us who has the choice of how to treat ourselves. Today is a new moment and we can begin to change the way we think- and begin to love ourselves. Now is the perfect moment to commit to change.

Fortunately, negative life experience brings with it huge benefits. The experience allows us to become far more focused, expanded and potential-filled. That is why you hear many true stories of people who were brought up in poverty yet become incredibly wealthy, or people who come from abuse and end up surrounded by so much love. Negative events can be a springboard to a fantastic life. It doesn’t have to trap us with a “this is the way things are” attitude. Painful childhoods can lead to a life of expanded insight rather than bitterness and we can take the experience, leaving the painful memories far behind.

Those old childhood thought habits may try to drag you back and you may find it challenging to keep up with doing your affirmations. You may be thinking “what’s the use?” and want to give up.

A new habit takes time to establish. As I said in my last blog, manifesting your desires is not an immediate two-step process; it is a new lifestyle choice and requires a commitment to change rather than a ‘so-so’ approach.

Like beginning any new routine- we go a little forward and then a little back. We may stumble, but we get back up and move on; We keep going!

You are loved and you are supported. Today is a new day and it is nice to know that anytime you want you can begin the commitment to change your life for the better. All will be well be on your journey.