I’ve read and heard first hand about the benefits of meditation. I would like to start meditating but find it hard to imagine that I, a person who picks up the phone every few minutes, can sit still for minutes at a stretch. I paid for a Headspace subscription but have not used it yet. What advice would you give a beginner as they get started? Do you think meditation is over-rated? Thank you for your time!
Try leaving your phone at home when you go out for a run.. that way you give yourself some space from it. Soon you'll also be able to leave your phone for meditating for a long time.
Try the Waking Up app. It was better for me than headspace and all the other meditation apps I tried
Try 10% Happier. Their whole thing is meditation for fidgety people.
Do you have a Buddhist temple nearby? Go there and meditate on the weekend for half hour. It forces you to concentrate and you can’t use your phone.
This was my favorite of all meditation experiences. In Atlanta, there was a great temple with a half hour of non-religious teaching about understanding the mind and suffering. Then a half hour reinforcing that (e.x. Semi-guided Meditation focusing of forgiveness of enemies and opening your heart to more love)
There is one In San Jose near bascom ave
Thank you! I see there are a number of Buddhist temples in South Bay & the Peninsula. I’m checking if any of these offer guided meditation. Please let me know if you are aware. Thanks again!
I recommend Insight Meditation South Bay https://g.co/kgs/jG8wSU. It's good for beginners.
Meditation is the most life changing thing you can do if learned properly as it will give you control over your mind and completely alter your perspective on reality. You need to be instructed properly by a trained professional, though. Just "attempting" to meditate is like asking someone to fly a plane with no formal instruction. They might be able to turn it on and get it going, but they aren't going to be very effective. Find a teacher that you trust and go through the steps. It's a science... Proven steps taken for thousands of years that lead you to the goal if you follow them.
Mediatation is not overrated! I used headspace, but as a moderate experience. You definitely NEED guided meditation to start out. Just do 5 minutes, no big deal. Your mind should race the entire time, relax into the feeling of understanding yourself better. Expert mode is hour long unguided meditation in a moderately quiet environment.