The goal is not to force your mind into something artificial.
It is rather to connect with a natural way of being and expressing this one step further.
If you want to find a greater sense of peace and inner stillness, start with a simple breathing technique.
Follow your natural breathing cycle and observe the air flowing in and out of your body.
Relax.
No tension.
Natural and easy.
It is a pleasurable practice.
You have two ways of approaching such practices:
· The first one is to explore all this by yourself.
· The second one is to consciously connect with a source of inspiration, teacher, master, teaching, tradition, etc.
There are dozens of systems of meditation.
Usually meditation is a set of practices within a much vaster mind set, spirit or energy reality.
Again, you can explore all that as "autodidact" and recreate your own spiritual system or you can simply connect with an existing stream and learn from it.
The second option offers you of course more support and guidance.
If you prefer the first option and go "solo", you will certainly get results and in a way reinvent these techniques in your own unique way.
The long term goal is to expand your awareness and connect with deeper layers of your being and your consciousness.
Once you master this breathing technique, you can ad focus on one of the chakras. Usually the third eye (centre of your forehead) or the heart chakra (middle of the chest) are the easiest and most powerful gateways.
Simply focus on one of these spots.
Once you master the breathing technique and one pointedness on one of your chakras, you can ad a mantra (sacred formula).
The simplest mantra is "Om".
You simply sound it in your third eye or heart.
The "Om" sound expresses the unity of all things.
When you sound this word internally, you invoke your unity with the cosmos.
It is like focusing on your universal identity and inviting this reality in your being.
When you start, the best is to have short meditations (5 minutes).
Don't focus on the discipline aspect of it, rather the flow and pleasure you get from it.
Concentrate for a few minutes and then, let go.
You will notice that if you practice this regularly (once or twice a day over a period of a month), you will connect with a profound sense of peace and harmony.
You will naturally energize your mind and bring clarity to your thoughts and emotions.
Don't try to convince or influence anyone else in these early stages.
Focus on developing the practice for yourself until your master it.
The desire to mediate is like a gentle stream of energy.
It guides you and inspires you in a very subtle way.
If you rationalize too much or engage in philosophical debates about it (especially in these early stages) you might miss the point and loose your focus.
Stay centered on the practice itself. This is the best way to get results and to instruct your mind.
What to expect?
Most of the times, it's nothing spectacular.
You simply notice a slight change in the "color" of your emotions and clarity in your mind.
You feel brighter inside and slightly happier.
These are the "visible" effects of your meditation.
However, deep inside, a more profound transformation is taking place, always.
Even if you are unaware of it, as soon as you start meditating, your mind vibration shifts.
Transformation starts taking place instantly.
What is this transformation?
It is the alignment of your being with a much vaster reality.
You can call it universal consciousness.
It is like synchronizing your life with the vaster stream of manifestation.
This is why it feels like a new connection.
You break through layers of isolation and simply discover a new absolute sense of unity.
It changes your life forever!