Yanni's Blog

This is Part VII of an eight part blog which began on April 14.

As I mentioned earlier, I will now lead you in a Thought Counting meditation. In order to help you to prepare for the meditation, which will be on my May 9th Podcast, today’s blog and Wednesday’s blog will consist of instructions on how to meditate.

Please use this meditation on a regular basis. You will be amazed at what you find out about yourself as you do it.

FYI, this “Thought Counting Meditation” is from my Meditation CD entitled: Peace of Mind is a Thought Away: Mastery Meditations.

If you are interested in finding out more about my Meditations CDs, please go to the following link: http://www.learnmastery.com/AudioTapesByYanni.htm

So, enJoy and Relax!

How to prepare to meditate?

Before you start to meditate, it is very important to settle yourself, to slow yourself down and to prepare an internal and external environment for relaxation. So, begin by creating a quiet, comfortable place for you to sit and meditate in. Dim the lights; close the door, and turn off the phones.

Also, it is preferable that every time you meditate it be at the same time and in the same place, but don’t be too rigid about this. It is more important that you actually meditate rather than that you adhere to a rigid schedule. But do know that by establishing a regular time and place for meditation, you are more likely to do it consistently because you are then creating a very clear new habit/pattern and intention that this is my time and my place to meditate.

As well, make sure that all significant others know that this is a quiet, private, undisturbed time just for you. This is your time to be with yourself, to meditate and to do nothing else. Also, pick a time that works for you, a time when you are usually not too busy. And, if the time you first choose doesn’t work for any reason, then change it and experiment until you do find a time and setting that works.

Please note, too, that it is most ideal to meditate every day, but don’t get too rigid about this either. Just start meditating as often as you can and then gradually build up to meditating every day. The more you meditate, the more you will want to, so let the frequency grow on its own.

Also, start off with whatever length of time you feel most comfortable with, even if it is only five minutes. Let the timeframe, as well, gradually become longer. It takes time, practice and patience to build up your meditation muscles. Don’t force any of this. But do be consistent and clear in your intentions.

If you have never meditated before and decide that you will now meditate for twenty minutes, two times a day, everyday, you are more than likely setting yourself up for failure, for self-sabotage. You will most likely go on overload and will quit in a few days. Just as you can’t run a marathon unless you have gradually built up your endurance, so, too, with meditation, let yourself gradually build up your endurance. So, go slow and get there fast!

Meditation is a life-long skill that you step by step integrate into your life. Don’t try to rush or push it! Let it all be easy and fun!

This is Part VII of an eight Part Blog