If you already meditate, it’s helpful to cultivate a “beginner’s mind.” That means letting go of your concepts about meditation, about your mind, and about yourself – and approaching each meditation (truly, every moment!) with an open mind and attitude.

If you’re new to meditation, put your concepts about it on hold until you have experienced it for a while.

“What is meditation?”

There are countless definitions. To me, meditation is simply turning our awareness within, toward our own inner being, instead of turning it toward the outside world.

You may believe that going within means thinking.

It doesn’t.

Instead of thinking and then following your thoughts to their logical conclusions, we halt that progression. We become aware of the thoughts we are having, and then intentionally let them come and go like waves on the ocean.

However, it is not always as simple as this. Sometimes our thoughts don’t want to go or quiet down – they want to stick around or even proliferate.

Throughout my years of teaching meditation, a lot of people have told me: “I can’t meditate. My mind is too busy.”

Everybody has a busy mind, at times, but it is not a barrier to meditating.

It is a great misconception and myth that if your mind isn’t quiet during meditation, then you must be doing it wrong.

That isn’t true.

 Your mind may become still – for a little while, or even for an entire meditation session.

But if that does not happen, recognize that you are thinking, and then, resettle your focus onto your breath. You may have to do this repeatedly until you become more experienced.

If you notice that your thoughts are still lingering, don’t beat yourself up or your mind for having them. Just be aware, accept what is or isn’t arising, and breathe.

The purpose of meditation is to uplift our lives. The power of daily meditation practice – even for a few minutes – has the capacity to positively impact your daily life.

 So I encourage you to try it. Right now if you can!

Take a few minutes – close your eyes – and concentrate on your breathing. And if thoughts or feelings kick up, simply resettle your attention onto your breath.

I also encourage you to take Breath Breaks throughout your day. In the same fashion, focus on your breathing, for just a few rounds of inhaling and exhaling.

This simple practice can alter and improve not only the moment but your entire day.

written by Sheldon Lewis 

edited by Rachael Kuecher