You know you’re meditating when you allow your thoughts to pass and you’re in a state of acceptance. Meditate is connecting you with the observer. The observer is the part of you beyond though and feelings. It is the part of you than can see your thoughts and feelings from a nonjudgemental point of view.
Meditating "properly" is different for everyone, but a great start for anyone is to find that peace and quiet, get into a comfortable position, and then focus on your breathing. Focus on the feeling of the air coarsing through your nose and filling your lungs. Inhale, and exhale. Now- generally, when I enter a meditative state, it feels like spacing out… so focus on nothing but your breathing until you space out. It is okay if your mind wanders. If your mind wanders…just say "Focus.", and continue to focus on your breathing. Even if you have to do it over and over again, it will get easier as you go! I promise.
Great Question. Mind wandering is totally natrual and part of thr meditation process! Meditation in essence is just sitting and breathing, your mind will natrually take you where you need to go. Here’s a thought you might find comfort in. Your subconscious response to meditation regardless of your concious. So you don’t think your way into a calmer you. You just breath. That’s it. Sometimes your mind wanders for a minute sometimes maybe 15. That’s OK! When you notice your off your breath. Just gently note what you were thinking and return your focus to your breath. That’s it. Once you begin to feel more comfortable with breathing… Perhaps some new questions will come… Or perhaps something else will happen in your journey. Maybe you’ll just be 10 percent happier… In my opinion. The point of mediation is the antipoint, to be ok with being, without direction and to have the truth of being revealed to you, not be action… But by inaction… Which means… just chill..just breath and try and relax 🙂 Wandering is perfectly ok and normal.
Ideally you stop thinking at all, for periods of time. But worrying about what the experience “should” be like will help your mind wander. It’s normal for the mind to distract you when you start. Instead of worrying or letting yourself get distracted by thinking about how your mind is wandering and feeling bad, ( because that’s another mental trap) try this – when you realize it’s wandering observe yourself for a moment- note that your mind wandered and then focus on the meditation again. With practice the times between when your mind wanders will get longer and it will get easier.
If your mind wanders, it’s a good sign. It means that you’re trying to concentrate on meditating. Your mind wanders and you try to put your concentration on meditating again. Keep trying!
I find that if I can easily detatch from the thoughts that are coming and going, then I can feel calmer and less reactive after meditating. I guess this is a way to know that my meditation is effective.
Acknowledge the thought but don’t stay there. RE-center. Don’t give the thought life otherwise it will take you all over the place. Good luck!
Anytime when you sit down to be aware of a moment is meditation. I find guides meditation the most helpful when my mind is wandering, it gives me something to listen to and consider whilst still being able to concentrate or my breathing and the present. Also I find it helpful to close my eyes at do a very detailed mental scan of my body, starting with my feet and working my way up to my head. This way my brain is active but not given the chance to wander. Plus, I can identify any areas of bodily tension.
I don’t know..! I only started recently and found that I just focus on my breathing. I only notice I wasn’t thinking after the meditation is over. But sometimes it is hard to focus. I still try and let my mind washer for a bit
It is important to remember the point of mediation in order to practice it correctly. Meditation offers you a chance to strictly observe what the mind is doing. Whether that be noticing its thoughts that will forever arise or interrupting the emotional loops which are always strengthened by those thoughts. So, you are already practicing correctly seeing that you are noticing those thoughts, the next step would be to practice becoming the observer of them rather then be captured by them. So long as your mind exists, it will forever wander mindlessly, that is what it does. Focus on the feel of your body and your natural breath next time you notice those wandering thoughts and with a tremendous amount of practice, at least it has been for me, and you will begin to notice those thoughts coming and going but choose to not participate. You can always be the one feeling your body and breath, the observer, instead of the one getting lost in that which is only ever an illusion, your thoughts. Hope that helps. If it didn’t, I wish there was a way for you to follow up as I’d like to hear if that was helpful and offer more if it was.
Answers reflect the personal experiences of Fabulous community members. They are not medical or professional advice — for guidance about your health, talk to a qualified professional.