Getting “better” at meditation
“Real meditation is not about mastering a technique; it’s about letting go of control.”
— Adyashanti
Helllllloooo Practitioners,
Meditation gained new meaning when my mind felt "grimy". We had just gotten back from two weeks of traveling in Spain. During the trip, for the first time in years, I did not sit and meditate.
When we got home, I was craving meditation. But when I sat down, my mind felt grimy. Like how your teeth feel filmy-almost-furry when you don't brush them? That's how my mind felt. Eeewwww...
There is abundant research on the benefits of meditation for neuroplasticity, mood and wellbeing, attention and focus (check out this article for more). The data is great, but until you FEEL different, it's just facts and figures on a page, or hopes and dreams for another day.
So how do you feel different? how do you get big benefits? the eternal answer: PRACTICE.
Which may lead you to ask: how? what technique? which app? These are common questions with no good answers. How you meditate, what technique you use, the amount of time, depends on YOU. Your needs, intention, and aims with meditation. This is why I often invite you to meditate, but rarely instruct meditation.
Also, most modern humans get so bogged down with theory and techniques, they never actually sit enough. In other words, too much information and not enough implementation.
To answer common questions, encourage your exploration, and provide just-enough theory to get you started, I recorded a short podcast on Meditation. Listen here on Spotify. Listen here on Apple. If you prefer to read, go to the blog post.
The podcast is casual and conversational because it's inspired by your questions. Submit questions freely and frequently here: Ask Alison
May your practice become basic mental-emotional-spiritual hygiene,
Alison
