Q: I’m an absolute beginner. Is there an optimal state of mind to be in to meditate? What about time of day?
A: Welcome! The best time to meditate is when you can allow yourself to safely and fully engage in the moment. There is no special place or state of mind to be in, nor an exact way to practice. Mindfulness meditation meets you where you are. The mere thought of taking a minute to slow down is your cue to start.
You can try allowing your daily routines to become your meditation practice.
A 3-Step Mindfulness Practice to Carry You Through Your Day
1. When you get out of bed, notice your surroundings, feel your feet on the floor or your hands on your thighs, and be present with yourself. Feel the sun, notice the experience of water on the skin as you shower and brush your teeth. Notice how many colors are in the first meal you eat. Pausing for a moment to yourself is self-care, and is not selfish.
2. Continue this practice through the day. At any moment throughout the day you can look down, notice your feet on the floor (or wherever else you may notice you’re grounded to the earth), and invite a pleasant color or object in your immediate environment into the experience. Here you are! Present.
3. Notice your state of mind after meditation and allow that moment to lead your next step.
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A Guided Meditation to Set Your Intentions for the New Year
Skip the resolutions this year. Set a different tone by cultivating your intentions for the new year with this mindful practice.
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Gratitude Practice: Savor the Moment by Tapping into Your Senses
Cultivate gratitude for life’s small delights as you move through the senses.
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Try the HALT Practice to Tune In to What Your Body Needs
Sometimes we need to drop into our body to discern what we need in this moment. The four questions in this practice allow us to self-regulate by attending to what our difficult emotions or physical sensations may be telling us.
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