Mantras Mistakes and steps to Remedy your Practice.
When using mantras, affirmations, and meditations, it’s important not to lose sight of why you are doing it. As many scholarly studies show, these things work but they’re not magical. In other words, they won’t work if you don’t regularly devote yourself fully to the process over time.
Reciting mantras helps to stimulate both the left (logical) and the right (creative) side of your brain. Using both sides of your brain helps balance your mind and gives you a more holistic view of things.
Here are some mistakes people often make when using mantras, affirmations, and meditations
For brevity I am using the terms interchangeably so when you read Meditation it is simply you chanting your mantras…
Not Being Specific Enough
When using mantras, affirmations, and meditation, it is crucial to be as specific as possible. This way, you can ensure that your mind is focused on precisely what you want to achieve. Think about how you make goals. You use SMART goals to help create specific, measurable, realistic, and timely goals for your sessions. Do the same thing when you set up your mantras.
Not Believing in Yourself
It helps for mantras, affirmations, and meditation to work if you genuinely believe in yourself. If you don’t think that you can achieve your goals, it is unlikely that these tools will be practical for you. If you lack self-confidence, it’s essential to work on your confidence first. You can use mantras, affirmations, and meditation to build your confidence before working on something higher level.
Not Being Consistent
To be effective, you must be consistent with your practice of mantras, affirmations, and meditation. If you only use these tools sporadically, it is unlikely that you will see any results. Don’t expect to do it just once a month without any effect. It would be best if you did them daily to get the desired effect.
Not Putting in Enough Effort
Using mantras, affirmations, and meditation is not a magic bullet – you still must put in the work to see results. For example, suppose you want to eat right. In that case, you have to set your intention and then follow through after your practice mindfully to eat right. If you are unwilling to put in the effort, then it is unlikely that you will see any benefits from using these tools. In addition, once you do the mantras, affirmations, and meditation, you must act on your goals.
Not Being Patient
You must understand and accept that change does not happen overnight. You will likely be disappointed if you expect immediate results from mantras, affirmations, and meditation. Change takes time, so it is crucial to be patient and consistent with your practice.
If you can avoid making these mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to seeing the benefits of using mantras, affirmations, and meditation in your life. Remember to be patient, consistent, and specific with your practice; if you are, you will eventually see the desired results.
Breathe, Be, Become: The Subtle Magic of Meditation
Still Waters, Deep Mind: The Art of True Meditation
How to Meditate Effectively
There is no standardized approach to meditation. It’s best to follow tried and researched techniques but once you understand how it all works, you can alter your style to suit your needs. So, let’s explore a few tips that can help you get the most out of your practice.
Get Comfortable
Ensure you’re comfortable in your attire before you get started. Once you’re accustomed to this, you’ll be able to meditate even on your break from work, but at first, make it a point to get comfortable. Begin by finding a suitable place to sit or lie down. You don’t need to be in a particular posture to meditate, but it helps to be comfortable.
Set a Timer
While you can meditate all you want without any concern for your wellbeing, setting a timer will help you get used to the practice without thinking about time. It’s ironic, but if you set the timer for the length of time you want to meditate, you’ll find you do it a lot better. This will help you keep track of your practice and not worry about the time.
Close Your Eyes
While it’s true that you can engage in mantras even if you’re driving, walking, or doing things, if you are going to meditate properly, you need to shut your eyes. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing – in and out. Notice the feeling of the air filling your lungs and moving in and out of your body. Become mindful of your body and the air going in and out of you.
Let Go of Control of Your Thoughts
When you try to control your thoughts during meditation, they are more likely to get out of control. Instead, let your thoughts come and go as they please. Just focus on your breath and return to it whenever you get distracted. So, if a thought that distracts you comes up, just dig deep and focus on the sound of your breathing. It’s going in and out. Feel your lungs expand with air. If you use mantras, focusing on the sound of your words is also helpful.
It’s Okay If Your Mind Wanders
While this is sort of the same as the above, understand that it’s normal for your mind to wander a bit. If you notice that your mind starts thinking of everything – like an itch here, a sound there, a smell here (or worse, tasks you need to do), simply return your focus to your breath. The repetitive focus lets you get a lot out of your meditation time. But make no mistake; it takes effort.
Let It Marinate
At the end of your meditation, sit for a few moments and feel the peacefulness you’ve created. Don’t just pop up and start doing things without thought. Instead, allow this moment to carry you through the rest of your day, thoughtfully and mindfully focused on the actions you need to take to succeed at your goals.
Do It Regularly
Make meditation a regular practice. The more meditation breaks you take, the more benefits you’ll experience. It takes a lot of practice to meditate effectively. At first, you’ll probably struggle with doing it for as long as you think you want to. That’s okay. Just keep practicing.
Be Patient
Be patient with yourself. No one is perfect – not even people with multiple years of experience. Meditation is a journey, not a destination. Just keep practicing, and you’ll get better and better at it. Like any skill, it’s going to feel strange at first. But the more you experience how meditation feels, the more you’ll feel normal doing it.
Meditation is a beneficial tool that can totally change your life. You can reduce anxiety, become more loving and open, and succeed at more of your goals than you ever thought possible.
