The selfcentered Tips

The best way to have a good selfcentering session is to properly prepare for one. If you just try to sit down and jump right in, it can be challenging to get quiet. Yet if you just spend a little bit of time following these steps, you will find it much easier to settle into a calm, comfortable, and connected space.

Find your space. It’s always easier to settle down when you are in a familiar place. Determine one or two quiet spots in your home where you feel most comfortable and make them your selfcentered space. Every time you sit down, you will feel ready to enjoy the silence. It doesn’t mean that you always have to get selfcentered in your designated space but as a reoccurring thing, it will make your practice much more enjoyable.

Light it up. Find a candle or some incense that has a particularly relaxing smell and light it right before you sit down. Not only will the smell have a calming influence but the ritual will help prepare you for a killer session.

Be Still. Once you settle into a comfortable seated position, become totally motionless. Breathe so slowly that your breath feels almost non-existent. Sit so quietly that your body becomes statue-like. Repeat the words: “be still” in your mind and put your attention on doing it. After a couple of minutes, stop repeating the words and just enjoy the peace.   

Check your mental baggage at the door. Anything floating around in your mind (stress, anxiety, trouble) can wait until after you’re done. Remind yourself that the purpose of getting selfcentered is to take a break from your day. The less you do, the better the experience. So just allow yourself to stop thinking about whatever it is that is circulating in your mind. By simply reminding yourself that it’s time to stop thinking for a bit, it will be easier to let go. You can always return to thinking like mad again when you’re done.

Practice the shift. A selfcentered person can shift the focus of their attention at will. Practice moving your awareness from thoughts to breath or from sound to space. Do it during your day when your eyes are open and during stillness when your eyes are closed. Master the shift and it will serve you during times of silence and activity.

Let go. Have you ever heard the saying: “no pain, no gain”? Getting selfcentered is the exact opposite of that. The more that you can let go of expectations, thoughts, the deeper and more enjoyable the experience will be. Don’t think that you have to force, concentrate or struggle with your time in silence. Just allow it to be comfortable and easy. Remember, the less you do, the better it will be.

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