{"id":1023,"date":"2017-03-07T23:16:37","date_gmt":"2017-03-08T05:16:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/successseriesllc.com\/wordpress\/?p=1023"},"modified":"2017-04-09T13:56:30","modified_gmt":"2017-04-09T19:56:30","slug":"3-step-guide-to-meditation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.successseriesllc.com\/wordpress\/2017\/3-step-guide-to-meditation\/","title":{"rendered":"3-Step Guide To Meditation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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#GrowYourLife
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As I mentioned in my last blog post,\u00a0The 5 Reasons to Practice Mindfulness<\/a><\/em>, meditation is now a key part of my ideal morning routine after, at first, being one of those individuals that used to poo-poo it saying, “I don’t have time to meditate.” Perhaps you’re like I was and yet…you’re curious.\u00a0 You ask – “Would meditation reduce my stress, keep me centered, and help me achieve my goals?” You wonder – “Well…it probably wouldn’t hurt, but how do I start?” If that describes you, then this blog post is for you.<\/p>\n

I write this blog post for those who would like to try putting your toe in the water of meditation and see if it resonates with you. Meditation can be easily practiced with 3 simple steps: preparation, focus, and breath<\/strong>. I\u2019ll describe each step in detail in just a minute, but first I wanted to mention that my team and I have been working on a special project over the last few months which fits nicely with this and my last blog post<\/a>, as well as my earlier guest post entitled\u00a0Meditation and the Benefits of Its Daily Practice<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

7-Day Guided Mindfulness Meditation Audio Series<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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I will soon be releasing a FREE downloadable 7-Day Guided Mindfulness Meditation Audio Series which you will be able to download right here on my blog, or listen to or download from my website or Talk with Tom<\/a><\/em> podcast (found on iTunes and GooglePlay [subscribe today<\/a>]). The meditations are seven, 10-minute mindfulness meditations personally guided by me. If you’ve not practiced mindfulness or mindfulness meditation, as I recommended doing so in my last blog post [here<\/a>], then my 7-Day Guided Mindfulness Meditation Audio Series is a great place to start. Watch for it coming soon!<\/p>\n

In the meantime, here\u2019s the simple 3-Step Guide to Meditation<\/strong> to get you going:<\/p>\n

3-Step Guide to Meditation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Step 1 – Preparation: Find a quiet and clean place to meditate. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Once you find a quiet place to sit where you won\u2019t be disturbed. Sit with a straight back on a cushion or a chair, in a position that feels comfortable\u2026and close your eyes. Rest your hands gently on your knees or cup them in your lap. Keep your upper body straight, tall like a mountain. Relax your chest and let your body rest easily and breathe gently.<\/p>\n

Step 2 \u2013 Focus: Close your eyes and begin to focus.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

First, take a minute or two to listen to the sounds around you. Can you hear birds chirping outside? Cars driving by? Then, move your full attention to your body. Focus on your shoulders, hands and feet. Think of them as weights and let your body feel that weight. Spend another minute or two focusing solely on your body. Mentally scan, head-to-toe. Next, let your mind wander. Spend the next minute or two thinking positive thoughts.<\/p>\n

Step 3 \u2013 Breathe: Count it out.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Keeping your eyes closed, shift your attention over to your breath. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. After a few breaths, begin counting. Every time you inhale and then exhale that counts as one. Count up to 10. If your mind starts wandering and you lose count, simply start over. Once you feel calm and ready to take on the day, slowly open your eyes.<\/p>\n

Additional Meditation Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Here are a few more tips to enhance your meditation practice:<\/p>\n