Looking for beginners meditation books to improve your practice? Read on for the one book that will take your meditation to the next level.
Once a kind of obscure practice reserved only for yogis and woo-woo types, somewhere around the early 2000s, meditation started becoming as mainstream as Lululemon and Starbucks.
People everywhere were praising the amazing life-changing benefits of meditation and its ability to reduce stress, improve mental clarity, increase self-awareness, manage anxiety, and improve sleep. What problems couldn't meditation solve?
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Beauty In The Struggle
Of course, I had to get on board. So I started incorporating "mediation" into my daily routine. I would sit cross-legged in the corner of my living room, rest my hands on my knees, close my eyes, and start counting down to when I could open my eyes again. I would usually last 3 minutes at most. This couldn't be meditation, could it?
Then I tried to focus on my breath, hoping it would stop my mind from reeling about my ever-growing to-do list or what to make for breakfast. But then I would get caught up on whether I should be thinking about breathing or trying to think about nothing, which just got me thinking about the fact I wasn't supposed to be thinking. This definitely couldn't be meditation.
What the heck was I missing? How does everyone else seem to be so calmly meditating for anything longer than 2 minutes at a time?
The Best Beginners Meditation Book To Learn Meditation
It wasn't until I read The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer did I have my aha! moment. It's so simple! And I wish more people talked about this super simple secret to actual meditation.
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
If you’ve ever wondered what it would it be like to free yourself from limitations, soar beyond your boundaries, and discover true inner peace and serenity, The Untethered Soul can show you the way. Whether this is your first exploration of inner space, or you’ve devoted your life to the inward journey, this book will transform your relationship with yourself and the world around you.
When you jump into a chilly pool, you know that voice in your head that goes, "Ah, that's cold!" or you take a bite of something you can't stand, and that voice in your head goes, "Ew, that's horrible?" That's your Monkey Mind, and you have total control of what and when you allow that voice to pop into your head.
Meditation is all about taking back control from your Monkey Mind and giving your mind a chance to rest by quieting your ongoing stream of subconscious thoughts.
The next time you sit down to meditate, if you're like most everyone, your mind is going to race. Take a minute to recognize that reflexive voice in your head. What is it saying to you at that moment? Michael Singer advises mentally saying "hello" to your Monkey Mind as a reminder that you can address and stop these subconsciously flowing thoughts anytime. When your mind begins to race again, simply say "hello" (or any other mantra you choose) again to remind you to have full control over stopping your thoughts.
Practice Makes Perfect When It Comes to Meditation
The more often your practice actively pausing your subconscious thoughts, the more the quiet stretches between your racing thoughts will lengthen. The longer you allow your brain to experience these silent inner moments, the more your meditation practice will improve. You'll notice that you can sit for longer stretches of time with fewer intrusive thoughts, and then you'll begin to feel the benefits that come along with a true meditation practice.
Suggested Reading: Boost Your Mental Health: How To Start a Self-Care Bullet Journal
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