One of the most powerful tools you can use to improve every area of your life is meditation. Most people never start because they think they don’t know how to do it properly or they aren’t good at it. The truth is there is no right way to do it and the only way to get better at it is by doing it more.
Here are a few of the successful people who claim meditation is an invaluable practice in their life:
- Ray Dalio
- Oprah Winfrey
- Russell Simmons
- Arianna Huffington
When I first decided to start I made the agreement with myself that I will not put pressure to do it perfectly. I actually promised myself that as long as I just closed my eyes for 5 minutes that was a win. I had thoughts racing through my mind about the day, whether it was working, if anyone was watching me, etc.
The cool part is that I started to see the benefits it had on my life such as:
- Getting more done when I work due to increased ability to focus
- Being more calm in stressful situations
- Being more present when talking with people
- Feeling like I have more time in the day (less anxiety and handle tasks step by step)
- Reacting less
- Better sleep
- More energy
As I did it more and more and got better and better I started using different apps, added soothing music and read books to sharpen my practice. I even got the Muse Headband which is a great product that gives you feedback on your brain activity during your meditation. I still haven’t taken a formal training on it such as Vipassana or Transcendental and one day I would like to as well. The point is you do not have to take a class to start meditating!
I eventually became addicted to all the positive benefits it was creating in my life and noticed my days were not nearly as productive or enjoyable if I missed my meditation. As I’ve heard many successful people say about meditation such as Russell Simmons, “If you don’t have 10 minutes to meditate you should meditate for 3 hours.” The point is that the return on investment of 10-30 minutes of your time will be far greater if you use it to meditate than work. The reason for this is because meditation enhances your ability to be more productive as studies have shown an increase of 500% for people who meditate.
At this point in my meditation journey I meditate two times per day for 20 minutes each time for a total of 40 minutes per day on average. Some days I miss one or shorten the sessions. Other days I go longer. One of the biggest benefits I got from meditating is flexibility and flowing with life more. So if I miss or have to cut one short I am totally cool with that also.
If you are new to meditation or are struggling to consistently do it here’s what I suggest.
- Sit on the floor with your back against the wall (you can put pillows under your butt and behind your back – get comfortable)
- Set a timer for 5 minutes
- If you want put on relaxing music or use an app
- Close your eyes
- *Pro tip – If you want to focus on something just focus on your breath going in and out
That’s all! As always I would love to hear your feedback on how this works for you in the comments below. Also please share this with a friend or anyone you feel would benefit!
