Acknowledge the frustration, and then let it go. Focus on your breathing for another five or ten counts. Trust that the frustration will go away if you practice enough.
It’ s just like training your body to run a marathon. If you suddenly tried to run ten miles, you wouldn’ t get frustrated if you weren’ t able to do it on the first try! You would realize that you need to stretch, practice, and train until you develop the skills to run for a long time.
The same concept applies to your brain and your ability to meditate. Think of your first few times meditating as practice. If you don’ t get it right away, don’ t despair! You’ ll get it eventually. Practice makes perfect.
Tip # 7: Use Candles and White Noise
While you might think that you should close your eyes during meditation, that’ s actually not often advised. Only the most advanced can close their eyes.
Because mindful meditation is about clearing your mind while remaining aware, it’ s important to still be able to see your surroundings and, therefore, remain aware of their existence.
Many people recommend that beginners light a candle when meditating. Candles can give off relaxing scents, they can create incredible ambiance, and they give you something to focus on. If you’ re having trouble simply focusing on your breath, try turning down the lights and focusing on the flicker of a flame.
If you live in an apartment building, or a place where noise might be an issue at any time of the day, you might want to consider getting a meditation CD or a white noise machine. These can help you ensure that you won’ t get distracted by external noise during the meditation process.
You can also use them( on a different setting) to help you sleep better at night!
Tip # 8: Pick A Designated Length Of Time
There is no specific amount of time required when practicing meditation. The most advanced people can meditate for days at a time... which seems completely mind-boggling, right?
Don’ t worry— you don’ t have to sit still for days!
Because sitting still and focused is actually harder than it may seem, try starting out meditating for about ten minutes at a time every single morning for the first week. See how you feel. By the end of your session, are you energetic and ready to start your day or are you squirming by minute eight?