Have you ever heard someone say that they’re “not good at meditation,” or that they “tried, but couldn’t stop thinking?” It’s not easy at the beginning, but having a regular meditation practice can add joy and peace in our lives; it’s not something we naturally just know how to do!
Just like exercise, knitting, carpentry, gardening, car repair and so many other skills, we aren’t just naturally good at meditation the first time we sit down to practice. Read that again. The word here is practice. Meditation is a practice.
Guided meditations can help us
Instead of just plopping down on a cushion and expecting our minds to switch into relaxation mode, we can begin with the support of a guided meditation. Listening to the sound of a voice that guides us again and again back to our bodies, our breath and the present moment is a helpful way to begin.
Why not give it a try today? This 40-minute Guided Awareness Meditation led by Louise Mahoney offers an opportunity to begin your practice:
Mindfulness Coach App
VA has created an app that can support your own practice of meditation and mindfulness. Mindfulness Coach will help you practice mindfulness meditation. Learn more here: Mindfulness Coach – PTSD: National Center for PTSD (va.gov).
