Meditation: Am I doing it right?

When starting out with something like meditation, we have all sorts of expectations of what it should be like. For example, it’s common to think that somehow just by starting meditation, our mind, this thing crammed full of seemingly non-stop thoughts, bouncing around from this emotion to that emotion, will magically transform into the mind of a Zen master, quiet and calm, perfectly still like the ocean on a windless day. Sound familiar at all?

Results such as epic levels of calm and wisdom and kindness will come in time, but the key to doing it right is doing it at all. Finding time and the opportunity to practice at all is perhaps the hardest thing. Like many styles of training, the process of meditation is much more important than the result. So if you manage to do some meditation then you are doing it right. Yes, you will get better at it as things go on, but that is how all types of training works.

Ultimately it’s not for buddhify or any other outside party to tell you whether you are doing it right. The person who will best know if you’re doing it right is you. And you’ll know because you’re making progress, you’re learning, and you’re having fun. So trust yourself. You’re reading this. You’re doing it right. You’ve got this.

Here are some words of encouragement from a few of the teachers you’ll find in buddhify:

Emily Horn | buddhify teacher

• There could be times where you’re really on it with meditation practice. You’re practicing every day. It feels like you’re gaining momentum, and you are. Then there are days where it feels like you can’t concentrate. Everything is completely different than yesterday. Just remember, you aren’t doing anything wrong. Whatever happens, that’s part of the practice. Do the best you can. Don’t beat yourself up. Relax. Again, your body remembers, and that’s part of the process. It doesn’t mean you’re not progressing. Just keep at it the best that you can, and it will continue to change your life.

Rohan Gunatillake | creator of buddhify

• There’s an infinity of  excuses not to practice. Even if it’s doing 20 seconds or 20 minutes, just the act of doing it is massive in itself. People often want the magic formula. You must do 20 minutes, 3 times a week. I think we want to find our own rhythm when it comes to meditation practice.

Lucinda Poole | buddhify teacher

• Don’t fret over ‘unsuccessful’ practices where the mind wanders more than it doesn’t. Be OK with the variation and unpredictability of the wandering mind – some days it is calm, present and focused, others it is jumping all over the place. This is OK!