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The answer: there is no goal in meditation

Most simply put—meditation is the practice of being fully immersed in the present moment by not indulging in the thoughts of the ego. This act allows us to tune into the subconscious mind, where healing & ascension takes place.

Thinking that meditation has a specific goal to achieve can make it seem like a chore. Similar to going to the gym or cleaning the toilets—you gotta do it, and you will do it, but only for what you’re getting out of it.

“Mediation is very simple. Yet it requires time, energy, determination, and discipline.” – Steve Hagen *

Meditation is about being fully present in the here and now, without agonizing over the past or worrying about the future. We energetically release these thoughts during meditation, without judging the thoughts or ourselves for thinking them.

Eventually, this skill becomes a habit, and we are living all of our moments fully present. Rather than meditation being something that is on the to-do list, have it be something that you embody as much as possible.

Mediation is for EVERYBODY

Are you new to this ancient practice, or are you a novice? All humans can & will benefit from meditation. So there is no reason to put it off any longer!

No matter how old you are, how young you are, how healthy you are, or how happy you are, you WILL benefit from meditation.

My belief is that everyone should start practicing meditation & mindfulness as soon as possible. Ideally we would all be taught how to meditate as toddlers, and lessons would be formally taught in schools up until graduation. By then, people would be meditating because they have lived the benefits for themselves their entire lives.

Just because you weren’t taught to meditate when you were a toddler doesn’t mean you can’t start now. Literally, right now. Release any extra chatter going on inside your brain. Congratulations, you just meditated! Now continuously do that same releasing technique for the next 10-60 minutes, then be amazed at how incredible you feel afterwords.

The Conscious Mind and The Subconscious Mind

Humans have two different minds that work together simultaneously to create their reality. The conscious mind, or the ego, is in the driver’s seat. Being the decision maker, the ego creates a sense of identity. “I am Sara-Rae” is an example of a thought of the ego.

The subconscious mind is in the passenger seat, simply observing the ride. Only when the ego loses control of the situation does the subconscious mind chime in. The subconscious mind is intimately connected to the soul, which brings life to our bodies. At the same time, the ego is greatly influenced by the subconscious mind, because whatever happens to the ego is imprinted on the subconscious.

The ego wants to ride the train of thought forever and ever–it is the nature of the mind to think endless thoughts. That is what it’s there to do. The subconscious mind is impressionable, the observer, and completely muffled if the ego takes over. Hence the importance of a daily meditation practice!

Why We Love to Meditate Every Day

Scientific validity of meditation has been rapidly increasing in recent years. Many intensive studies have been done to illustrate the impact meditation has on literally everything. Fantastic news for everyone who is human with a racing mind! Not that any of us necessarily needed scientific “proof,” but it certainly doesn’t hurt the cause.

There is no goal in meditation—and yet there are tremendous results.

Our entire person can be enhanced through quieting the mind–even when we aren’t actively practicing in our sacred space. Relieve stress, anger, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and low confidence. Promotes happiness, oneness, kindness (to others and ourselves), love, peace, ease, and clarity. There are a plethora of benefits to meditation, so much so that I will not attempt to discuss them at length.

The purpose of this post is to point out that meditation doesn’t have a specific purpose. A dedicated meditation practice takes discipline, but what can be discovered about the self is invaluable.

Meditation for the Mind: The practice of letting go.
Mediation for the Body: The practice of coming back to the breath.
Meditation for the Spirit: The practice of being present.

In formal meditation, we actively quiet the conscious mind for a period of time. When a thought emerges (any thought at all), we recognize it and let it dissolve away. Do this by focusing on the soundtrack of your breath.

Trust me, the ego WILL put up a fight—screaming for attention so loudly it’s almost impossible to ignore. But not impossible. Sooner or later the ego will give up, and keeping thoughts quiet becomes easier. And then, magick starts to happen!

“Ultimately, meditation can’t just be a component of our life. It must become a way of life–or, more accurately, life itself. After all, we’re only truly living when we’re here.”

Steve Hagen **

The most basic meditation to get started

Absolutely no research must be done in order to begin a mindfulness practice. Overall, meditation is very simple, and the majority of people are drawn to it without needing an explanation right away.

Research a few of those meditation studies mentioned earlier if you’d like, but don’t think that you must do that first, or even at all. We know in our hearts & souls that meditation is the greatest thing we can do for our self-care.

But of course, who doesn’t love a good book, right? If you’re looking for some reading on the subject, I highly recommend Meditation Now or Never by Steve Hagen. He discusses what a mediation practice actually is and means, how to bring your life to your practice, and so much more. This book is a fabulous place to start if you’re new to the whole idea of “quieting your mind.”

Here is a very basic meditation exercise you can do right now to kick-start your practice:

1. Sit or lay down in a comfortable position, but no so comfortable that you will fall asleep. Make sure you feel safe, warm, and open-minded.
2. Close your eyes and resist the urge to fidget your physical body. Notice any immediate sensations and/or thoughts you are having.
3. Become aware of your breathing. Consciously breath in as much oxygen as you can, and then breath out completely. When thoughts appear, let them flow by without judging or indulging. Remember, the ego is going to fight hard to be heard, but don’t let it win!
4. Smile, be grateful, and send love out into the world. Visualize the Earth surrounding in graceful & loving energy, and feel that energy penetrate every cell in your body. All the while letting each and every thought flow by without resistance.
5. Work on focusing on nothing but the sound of your breath for at least 10 minutes. Once you’re finished, take a moment to reflect on your experience before moving on with your day. Be sure to come back again tomorrow to repeat.

Related Article — 4 Visualizations For Beginner Meditation

Thank you so much for reading! I hope this post has inspired you to start up a meditation practice, or look at your existing practice with new eyes. Please feel free to share any comments on meditation you have in the comments below! How has meditation impacted your life?

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