MY PERSONAL MEDITATION ROUTINE

I’m going to lay out my personal meditation routine that I have developed over many years.  I’m not saying this exact formula will be what is best for everyone, but I’ve found it to be absolutely wonderful.  I don’t do any kind of mind clearing, it just has never worked for me.  I do more of a mindful reflective meditation.  What I actually think about during my meditation can vary from day to day, week to week. 

Position

I prefer to meditate in my recliner, though I sit up for most of the meditation.  I do tend to recline back for a few minutes toward the end but sit up again before closing out my session.  I like to sit with my legs crossed in a half yoga half Indian style position.  One leg is positioned up while the other is tucked under my other leg.  This position may not be comfortable for most people, so you may want to experiment with what works for you.  Maybe you simply sit with your legs down normally in the chair.  I wouldn’t recommend putting up the foot rest, because you may end up just taking a nap.  Whatever position you take, you want to be comfortable but not too comfortable.  I would not recommend sitting on the floor, because I find it very uncomfortable but like reclining with your feet up in the chair, I wouldn’t recommend lying down either.

Music to set the Mood

After you find a comfortable chair to sit in and your body is positioned in a reasonably comfortable fashion, you’re going to want to get your music set up and then, close your eyes.  I sometimes listen to environmental CDs on my MP3 which has gentle music in the background such as Sailboat Journey.  If I have internet access though, I prefer to find something conducive for meditation on YouTube.  They have literally thousands of choices in meditation and related music to choose from, and it's completely free.  I will give you a link to two of my favorite videos to listen to that I find helpful. 

The first link is to a piece of music to help reduce stress and anxiety.  It claims to have studies that have demonstrated that it reduces stress by 65% in as little as 8 minutes.  I listen to this one quite frequently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYnA9wWFHLI&t=55s.  Another piece of music that I found very recently is to elevate your happiness, here is that link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSgyXgES-8k&t=2984s.

Regardless of what you decide to listen to while meditating, I strongly recommend that you switch it up.  When I listen to the same piece all the time, it becomes monotonous and extremely boring.  That can cause you to fall asleep or simply not be able to get into your meditation.  I know some people would recommend that you meditate in silence, and if that works for you, go for it.  For me, I have found that the music helps to focus me and makes the meditation flow much easier.  I tend to meditate more deeply with something to listen to.  Once the music starts and your eyes are closed, take the first few minutes to just focus on your breathing.  Then comes the next phase.

My Focus

What I like to focus and reflect on can vary from day to day.  Sometimes it's related to what is going on during that day or in my life at that time.  I tend to focus on themes like love and peace to some extent in virtually every meditation.  I don’t have any said phrases or mantras.  I may reflect on love and how I am filled with it and how I am one with that Love.  I focus on light, abundance, happiness, and joy quite often as well.  You can take the time to get wisdom on issues or questions you may have.  For me, it's a time to become one with the light of God.  You don’t really need to frame your focus in any particular way, just make sure that you keep it positive.  Absolutely no negatively allowed. 

My favorite time to Meditate

I know many people swear by a morning meditation.  I have done them from time to time, but I have found for me, the best time to meditate is in the afternoon.  I’m the most focused and engaged and it feels absolutely wonderful to be able to take the time to rest midday.  Most people tend to hit a brick wall with their energy levels in the afternoon, and an afternoon meditation can be completely refreshing.  It's so refreshing, I’ve never found anything that comes close to how great it makes you feel.  In many cultures, this is siesta time.  A midday nap is great, but meditation at this time is even better to energize you.  I find by the end of the day, I’m too tired to effectively meditate, which is why I would not recommend an evening meditation.

How long should you meditate

I usually meditate for about 45 to 50 minutes, which is a long time.  If you’re a beginning mediator, you may wish to start off with a much shorter meditation and work your way up if you wish to do so.  When I started meditating, I used to go about 20 minutes.  That's probably a good starting point for most people.  It's difficult when you first start out to go past about 30 minutes.  

What are the benefits of meditation

The physical and emotional benefits of meditation are numerous,  and one could write volumes about it.  I’m going to discuss what it has done for me personally.  Besides just the wonderful feeling that it gives me, and how it energizes me, I have found that it helps to relax me.  It relieves all my stress and anxiety.  If I’m feeling depressed, it takes that emotion completely away.  I’ve found that I am more loving, kind, patient, happy, gentle, compassionate, etc.  I don’t get angry as often and feelings of anger tend to pass more quickly.  These type of changes can help to improve virtually any relationship in your life, including, as a parent or spouse.  It sure has in my life!

So there you have it, this is my meditation routine laid out for you step by step.  I have also given suggestions and the benefits meditation has brought in my life.  I do hope that you find this information helpful and experiment with what works for you as a meditation practice.  

Parable of the Storehouse

The servant of a wealthy master was called by his master so that he could speak with him. The Master said “You have faithfully served my father and I for many years, I wanted to give you a gift this day. I have prepared a great storehouse for you. Not only shall you receive this magnificent storehouse to store all of your most valuable treasures, but I have graciously provided the most wonderful treasure for you within this storehouse. In your storehouse, you shall find a lifetime supply of a powerful tonic in crystal vials. This tonic has the power to cure you of any sicknesses or diseases. It also has the power to relieve any depression, anxiety, or emotional pain that you might ever suffer. I recommend that you use such tonic daily.” The servant was so filled with joy and thanked his master for such a wonderful gift. The servant did notice however that his new storehouse had a huge lock on the door. He inquired of his master about it. The master said “It was necessary to place a strong lock on the storehouse to keep thieves from coming in and stealing the priceless vials. “Here, I now provide you with a key that shall open the storehouse to you.” The servant quickly took the key, and the two departed. A few days passed and the servant had been faithfully using the tonic that his master had given him from his new storehouse. Both the servant and his whole family had been cured of any ailments that they had and were so filled with unspeakable joy and peace. The servant was called again to his master. The master said “You were faithful in using my gift, and you graciously shared it with your family which makes me very happy. My father and I have decided that you shall no longer be just a servant to us, but shall be a friend in our household. You shall be my companion and co-heir with me in my father's house of all that I have. You shall also be a partner in my business affairs and shall have a share in the profits from it.” The servant was ecstatic! The servant said “that I should have the right to such a kind master who gives me such wonderful gifts and provides for me is wonderful indeed, but now you call me friend and have made me partner with you, I do not deserve such kindness, but I am so grateful for it” The former servant who was now the companion of the master departed. Another few days had passed when the companion of the master met with the master again. The master inquired into how his new friend was enjoying his storehouse of tonic. The companion replied “I had started out just using the tonic myself and with my family, but I started to notice that my neighbors had sicknesses and emotional distresses as well. I felt compassion in my heart for them and began sharing my tonic with them. They began to walk in good health and experience the same joy and peace that my family had. What was strange however was that as I would go to get more vials from my storehouse I would find that there were even more vials than previously in the storehouse. It was as if the vials began to multiply as I gave them away to others.” The master replied “Yes, when you give to others with a heart of love, blessings do multiply in your own life. I could have told you that plainly but wanted you to discover that for yourself. I am so pleased with your generosity you have shown to your neighbors. I shall also be generous. Invite all of your neighbors to meet with me, and I shall give them a storehouse with vials of their own containing the tonic.” The companion was pleased with these words and the two departed. After some time many of the companion's neighbors had come to the master and received their own storehouse with the vials of tonic in them. The companion was walking one day with the master when the master said “You have been so faithful in sharing with others and telling them about my gifts. My father and I have a special project for you now. You shall be my special representative to all the world. An ambassador of goodwill for all of my business affairs. With this new task shall come greater responsibilities but also greater blessings.” With these words the companion spent the remainder of his days traveling the world sharing the greatness of the master with all who would listen. The companion had once thought that only those that lived closed to him in the village were his neighbors, but now every person he spoke with throughout the world was truly his neighbor.