Meditation is a word that is being used so much more these days but there’s still a bit of confusion about what it actually is. Whilst meditation is deeply profound and full of paradoxes, an uncomplicated way to explain it is connecting with our Being. It’s creating a relationship with our innermost self, a deep intimacy – through harnessing the use of meditation techniques.

We are Human + Beings, yet most of us are only familiar with our human aspect. We know our physical body, our mind, our emotions and thoughts very well. But the aspect of our Being we generally don’t feel we know so well. It’s the part of us that is eternal, immortal, and unlimited. In essence we are spiritual beings having a human experience, but we’re not taught how to connect with our being in school are we? I mean most of us didn’t even really learn that much about our human aspects in school to be honest, more to just exercise our minds and I feel that is why so many of us associate so strongly with our minds, but I digress…

Using meditation techniques is a key way to connect with your being – the energy of the being is very very subtle and most of us are so over stimulated with our minds constantly running the show we find it near impossible to be sensitive and connect to something so ultrafine – this is where patience and devotion come into a meditation practice.

To be able to perceive this innermost subtle aspect of us takes some fine tuning, and that is why meditation techniques exist. The techniques are simply a way to hone our energy and attention so that we can connect. Techniques can include breathing or focusing attention in different ways, but after that there needs to be stillness and letting go of effort to be able to enter into meditation. This is probably the greatest paradox – making an effort and then after that just letting go.

THE CHALLENGES FOR BEGINNERS:

• Thoughts. The most common challenges I see are dealing with thoughts (you can read my last article on that exact topic HERE). 
• Feelings of ants, pins and needles etc. It’s not uncommon when you’re starting out to suddenly feel itchy or like your leg’s been invaded by ants crawling on you. It’s our human aspect trying to win back our attention, there’s generally nothing there, but it’s a way to say “hey come back you’re ignoring me!” and is something that the more we practice meditation the less of an issue it becomes. 
• Trying too hard. The other challenge ironically is ‘trying’ too hard. Meditation is not an activity like hiking or surfing or running. Once you get past the stage of techniques, it’s about being, just sitting and being present with yourself. For anyone with an achiever’s mind this can be beyond frustrating. We can ‘achieve’ so many things in life, but meditation is an exception. It’s a co-creation and why it requires so much patience but the rewards are beyond worth it. 
• Consistency. Sometimes so juicy, other times really dry. But like any relationship you keep going, you keep working on it, showing up with love and you know that it’s so worth it. That’s why it’s important to maintain consistency even when you’re starting out. 10minutes a day if you’re really new, but 20minutes gives you more time to truly settle in. 

When we approach meditation like another chore, something on our ‘to-do’ list it’s never really going to work. Yes we might feel more relaxed from sitting and breathing and a little better from taking time out, but it’s going to remain at the surface rather than a deep dive. When we approach meditation with a love and deep curiosity of wanting to understand and know ourselves at a deeper level and at times unlock mysteries of the universe that requires a level of devotion – a deep love for what you are doing.

3 MEDITATION TECHNIQUES TO KEEP YOU ADDICTED:

1) Devotion
This is something I highly recommend adding it in to any practice you already have and see how it unfolds for you. It changes everything. Doing things with love, rather than doing them for the sake makes a huge difference. Think of it as self love, and make it part of your everyday routine to deeply connect with yourself, just like you brush your teeth every morning. 

2) Curiosity
Approaching meditation with a beginner’s mind is so helpful. Be curious and open. Feel like a child with endless wonder and remember how magical you are. It’s about awakening to yourself and being more alive and present with yourself and life. Create an intimacy with yourself, connection rather than disassociation. 

3) Relaxed awareness
Not ‘trying’ too hard is one of the paradoxes of meditation. It’s the one that takes the most ‘practice’ ironically enough. But the more you try, the further away you are in the end.

Generally if you’re struggling with meditation and it’s feeling ‘dry’ you most likely haven’t found the right meditation techniques for you. There are so many techniques and in my meditation course Addicted To Being I share a variety of techniques over the 5 weeks but also show you how to structure a meditation so you’re not all over the place with it. If you want to learn to meditate with me my Addicted To Being Course is open for enrolment now, we start on 16th March.

Belinda Matwali is a meditation teacher and electronic music enthusiast who is passionate about making meditation accessible and fun for all.

Click here to learn more about Addicted To Being, or check out this page to find your nearest Electronic Music Meditation. To keep up with what Belinda’s up to, follow her on Instagram.