What would you consider success in meditation? Since the practice of meditation involves silencing the mental chatter, success in meditation could mean being able to quiet and calm the mind—at least for the duration of your practice.

But don’t you want much more? Don’t you want a peaceful mind that is able to a remain calm and balanced throughout your day, and not just while you are in your meditation seat?

This is a tall order because we know that the mind is a formidable force to control. It is unpredictable and stubborn in its habits. It can suddenly gush out a torrent of random and negative thoughts at the most inappropriate time and leave us helplessly carried away by their surge.

When that same unruly mind is made to quiet itself for meditation, the fierce outflow of thoughts obliterates all chances of finding even a single second of peace.

And so, what can we do to calm the deluge of thoughts?

Well, there are many good ways of temporarily calming the thoughts. For example, you could try doing some stretches and deep breathing exercises before you sit for meditation.

But if you want to actually re-form your mind, then you may consider introducing some new habits and changes to your daily routine and mindset.

As my guru, Swami Chinmayananda once said, Meditation is not just a practice. It’s living fully the life of spirituality.

Naturally, this requires more effort and a personal commitment to your inner growth. But the rewards of an overall balanced mind, inner strength and peace are well worth it.

5 habits that will ensure your success in meditation

 

#1…Wake up early in the morning for your meditation practice

Clock showing early morning wake up time of 4.45 am to ensure success in meditation.The best time for meditation is between 4 and 6 a.m. The atmosphere is naturally serene and if you’ve had enough rest, the mind is calm and introspective.

This makes it easier to quiet and focus the mind inwards.

In the chapter entitled “Daily Habits of a Spiritual seeker,” of my book, Your Spiritual Journey, I say, “If there is only one practice that you incorporate into your life after reading this book, I hope it’s this one. It has been the single most transformational habit of my life.”

Why do I say that?

Well, think about it. To wake up refreshed before dawn, you’d have to sleep earlier the night before.

To sleep earlier, you’d have to plan out your day so you would have time to get the important things done earlier. You’ll become more disciplined and efficient in managing your time.

Unimportant activities and staying up late to watch TV or a movie for example, will no longer be attractive.

You’ll find that once you commit to your new routine, the activities and people that don’t fit in, fall away quite naturally.

Read this article from the Sleep Foundation on the benefits of waking up early and tips on how to do so.

Once you get started, you will find that the peace from your early morning practice will motivate you to keep it up.

Success in meditation is doubly assured if you wake up early to meditate. This is the time chosen by all serious seekers.

#2 Spend time in solitude

You may have noticed that when you try to sit for meditation, you are bombarded with the most random thoughts. You may wonder where and how they showed up.

Our daily interactions leave impressions in our minds. These leave little scars in the subconscious mind as small hurts, judgements, petty annoyances, unresolved conflicts and unprocessed memories.

Nature takes care of releasing some of these impressions through our dreams. But there are many memories and emotions that remain unnoticed and unresolved. It’s these that suddenly show up when you’re trying to meditate.

And so, it’s important to take some time in solitude every day to sit and allow those thoughts to purge themselves.

Then when you sit to meditate, there will be less thoughts to deal with.

In the practice of sitting in solitude, you put everything aside and do nothing but allow the thoughts to come up and become aware of them.

Simply sit and observe your thoughts.

This simple practice will give you an idea what your mind is made of, and through that knowing, clarity about how you are really living your life.

Read how spending time in solitude transformed a young man’s life.

#3 Introspect and transform

Woman instrospecting by the waterside showing that this practice will ensure success in meditationOnce you’ve taken the time to purge your thoughts, you will naturally gain some insights into yourself.

You may become aware of the behaviours that were damaging your relationships and keeping you stuck in negative patterns of behaviour.

Your real motives behind certain actions may surprise or even shock you.

Remember to not allow these revelations and disappointments to bear you down.

Regrets are natural but be careful to not allow the debilitating effects of guilt or shame to take over your mind.

Instead, be thankful that you have achieved this awareness and resolve to change.

Think about ways in which you can make amends with others, and what changes you will implement within yourself.

Make sure that you have a solid plan of action or to-do list and take the necessary remedial measures.

Once you do, your mind will begin to feel lighter and less crowded. In fact, sometimes even just the sincere desire to take corrective action will take a load off your mind.

You may ask that since you weren’t even aware of these things before, how could they be standing in the way of your success in meditation?

Even if you weren’t aware of them before, they sit in your subconscious mind ready to trickle out as you progress in your meditation practice.

It’s always good to maintain cleanliness and doing this introspective process helps to keep a clean and pure mind.

Such a mind is not only useful for your success in meditation but also for success in meeting outer challenges.

#4 Practice forgiveness

If you did something that was unkind and insensitive that you regret, or when someone did something to hurt you, it leaves emotional wounds in your psyche.

You hold on to that memory and every time you re-play it, you perpetuate the pain.

Even if you block it out and put it away in the far recesses of your mind, it will still come out eventually—especially when you’re trying to find inner peace in meditation.

A wounded mind cannot meditate.

Meditation is not just a simple practice to unwind and relax. Meditation is inherently a spiritual practice that advances your inner growth.

We must forgive ourselves and others and let go of past regrets and hurts. A clean mind is critical for success in meditation.

To seek forgiveness for a wrong you have committed, approach the person concerned, confess your error and ask for forgiveness.

Sometimes though, the person whom you had wronged is no longer alive, too far away, or you just can’t bring yourself to approach him. All is not lost. Here’s what you can do:

  • Find a quiet time when you will not be disturbed.
  • Take a few deep breaths to calm your mind.
  • Visualize the person and imagine him standing in front of you.
  • Confess your mistake and sincerely ask for forgiveness.
  • Speak from your heart with all humility and genuine feeling.
  • You may imagine yourself having a two-way conversation with him or if this doesn’t happen, continue to express your desire to seek forgiveness.
  • Keep holding this feeling for some time until you begin to tire.
  • Surrender your feelings to the Divine and end your visualisation.
  • Thank the person and the Divine for the lesson you have learned and promise to never repeat what you had done.

If you have experienced and reflected well on the pain of repentance for something that you have done, it becomes easier to forgive someone else who has hurt you.

Remind yourself that holding on to unforgiveness doesn’t impose punishment or suffering on him. The bitterness and anger you are harboring punish you instead.

When you are convinced of this, you are ready to forgive and let it go for your own peace of mind.

Practice forgiveness, accept people as they are, and things that cannot be changed. This will increase your chances of success in meditation.

#5…Pray daily

Prayer attunes the mind to the divine, the greatest source of power and strengthens our connection with it.

Prayer opens the heart, fills it with calm confidence and inspires the mind with solutions as well.

When you tune in to that source which has infinite power and knowledge, you lighten yourself of the burden of your worries and sorrows. This quiets the mind and enables success in meditation.

Life brings us many knocks and to remain even keeled and standing, it’s important to seek help from a higher source of power.

Daily prayer cultivates humility, acceptance, faith and surrender to the divine. These qualities gradually re-mould the mind and make it less reactive, accepting and peaceful.

There may be days when the barrage of thoughts is overwhelming. You try your very best to not focus on them, but don’t succeed.

When all else fails, pray.

Ask the divine to bring peace to your mind. Surrender the thoughts to God.

When you sincerely seek out the help of God in this way, you will be pleasantly surprised at how the mood of your mind changes.

The thoughts that were bothering you will lose their intensity, and you will feel more peaceful.

Remould the mind, transform your life

Metamorphosis from caterpillar to pupa to butterfly to show how mind is transformed for success in meditationWaking up early to meditate, spending time in solitude, introspection, practising forgiveness and letting go, and daily prayer are some habits I have personally adopted into my life.

They have gradually remoulded my mind and transformed my life. I am getting better at remaining calm and balanced when meeting daily challenges and challenging relationships.

By adopting these solutions, you will gradually reduce the overall quantity of your thoughts, improve their quality and thereby find success in meditation.

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Manisha Melwani

Manisha Melwani is a teacher and the author of, "Your Spiritual Journey" She offers spiritual and wellness solutions for life and stress management. She teaches classes in personal growth, stress management and meditation. Contact her for more information or to have her speak to your group or organization. She also offers private counseling sessions on-line.

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