It’s a week before Christmas and all of you have completely forgotten about Hanukkah you fucking bigots are stressing. You haven’t finished shopping, supply chains are FUBAR, you are contemplating the ridiculous drive ahead, and/or dreading all the people coming to your home. Spending time with people, what is a Glibertarian to do? Meditate. I don’t recommend meditating while driving or with a house full of people, but you do you.

Meditation is simpler (and harder) than most people think. Read these steps, make sure you’re somewhere where you can relax into this process, set a timer, and give it a shot:

 

1. Take a seat. Find place to sit that feels calm and quiet to you.

2. Set a time limit. If you’re just beginning, it can help to choose a short time, such as five or 10 minutes.

3. Notice your body. You can sit in a chair with your feet on the floor, you can sit loosely cross-legged, you can kneel—all are fine. Just make sure you are stable and in a position you can stay in for a while.

4. Feel your breath. Follow the sensation of your breath as it goes in and as it goes out.

5. Notice when your mind has wandered. Inevitably, your attention will leave the breath and wander to other places. When you get around to noticing that your mind has wandered—in a few seconds, a minute, five minutes—simply return your attention to the breath.

6. Be kind to your wandering mind. Don’t judge yourself or obsess over the content of the thoughts you find yourself lost in. Just come back.

7. Close with kindness. When you’re ready, gently lift your gaze (if your eyes are closed, open them). Take a moment and notice any sounds in the environment. Notice how your body feels right now. Notice your thoughts and emotions.

 

Let’s go through some of the signs that you’re meditating correctly.

 

Heightened Awareness

One of the first signs that you’re meditating correctly is a sense of heightened awareness. This simply means that you become more aware of your surroundings, and of your own thoughts and feelings.

As you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, and their impact on you, you will be in a better position to choose how to react. You will be able to determine how your mind interprets what is actually happening. This is one of the most important parts of meditation, and it’s what can help you foster a sense of well-being in your life.

 

Freedom from the Inner Narrator

Another sign that you are meditating successfully is that you become less bothered by your inner narrator, or the ego, as it’s sometimes called. This is the voice in your head that constantly talks to you. When you’re meditating, you’ll start to realize that this voice is just a part of yourself, and it’s not always accurate. You’ll also realize you don’t have to listen to it all the time.

 

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Need something more to get through these stressful times? This week’s music understands why it’s tough to be you.