ENJOY THE PROCESS The foundation for lifelong practice
The more you enjoy meditation, the more you will get out of your practice. If you cultivate positivity around it, you are also more likely to stay motivated and committed to your meditative journey, creating the foundation for it to become a long-term habit.
Learning to enjoy the process is all about your relationship with meditation, and the inner dialogue that you have about your practice. The key is to remember that meditation is a special time that you set aside for yourself, rather than a task to cross off your to-do list. It is about getting to know yourself, befriending yourself, and mastering yourself, and is a force multiplier for everything else in life.
Try any of the following ideas to help keep meditation an enjoyable part of your life.
See meditation as a journey of exploration. Think about your practice, explore different methods, and meet different teachers, until you find what works best for you.
Make sure you are meditating in the best conditions, such as creating an inspiring place to meditate and using a good cushion or stool
Try not to develop negative feelings
around your practice, such as criticizing yourself or over-analyzing your sessions. Understand that just showing up and exercising your awareness and focus skills is all you need to do (see right).
Meditate just a little less than you would like to. Don’t stretch your motivation – this helps to keep the hunger alive.
Find a meditation partner – someone that is enthusiastic about the practice and with whom you can exchange experiences.
Join a friendly meditation community
to keep you inspired and on track.
Credit
GIOVANNI DIENSTMANN
