No doubt you’ve given meditation a try, and no doubt you’ve struggled with all those little annoyances that spring into your mind as you try to empty it of all the thoughts (called monkey mind sometimes). Here are some tips for beginners: 1.)    Start slowly. If you would like to meditate but feel you don’t have enough time, start with 5 minutes a day. The amount time can be irrelevant. The key is to start with something manageable and build on that. After a week, add another 2 minutes and keep adding 2 minutes every week. In 12 weeks, you’ll be up to 30 minutes. 2.)   Be consistent. Meditation requires consistency, doing it whether you want to or not. There will be days when you don’t feel like it, but that is precisely the time you need to grab your cushion and work with your resistance. Meditating at the same time each day may solidify your practice.  The best time is before you start your day or right before retiring for the evening. You may also find some great music at www.freemeditation.com/music or YouTube. 3.)   Go easy on yourself. Let go of the idea that the goal of meditation is to stop thinking. If you go in with this idea, you will be frustrated. The experience of meditation is different for everyone. The point is to be aware of your thoughts and learn to let them be. Sometimes these thoughts will answer dilemmas that you are struggling with or to give you guidance with ideas or questions that are causing you stress. 4.)   Find or set up a group. Sitting with other meditators at least once a week can help your practice. There is something positive that happens with the group dynamics of individuals who share the same goals. Training to be more “mindful” is like learning to play a piano. The more you practice the more skilled you’ll become- and that will help you make better decisions and live a less stressful life. We at your Golden CO dental office would love to hear about your meditation techniques and experiences and share them with our patients. OOOOMMMMMMMM…