Meditation is a technique for resting the mind. The intention is not to create a blank mind or be in a state of trance. Essentially, the process of meditation is to simply watch what is going on, good or bad, without judgment. Meditation is a tool for calming yourself, for letting go of your biases, and seeing what is, openly and clearly. There are many different types of meditation. The primary difference between different types of meditations is their focal point. Examples of different focal points include:

• Breath
• Visualization (nature, people, place)
• Mantra (a word, sound or statement repeated)
• Attitude (peace, love, forgiveness, etc.)
• Physical sensation (watching a candle flame, listening to a sound, holding an object)
• Guided (facilitator takes participant on a journey)
• Moving meditations (yoga practice or walking)

Benefits of meditation include: managing anxiety and depression, reducing negative emotions, increasing self-awareness, and handling symptoms of chronic health conditions. Meditation is a practice; there is no perfect meditator or meditation. There is no “right way” to meditate.  Have patience, and practice consistently.

Most likely, the benefits of your meditation practice will not be dramatic but noticed gradually over time. You may experience physical relaxation, feeling less worried, and finding yourself becoming more aware of the joy in the present moment.