5 tips to help you decide if you should meditate without the help of a teacher.
A lot of my clients ask me: How do I know when it’s time to practice silent meditation without guidance?
It is a very important and relevant question, as silent meditation can cause increased distress in some cases, whilst a guided meditation for others could be another form of distraction and avoidance of going deeper. The decision is very personal.
Below I have outlined some guiding points to reflect upon when you are making your decision.
1. You are a starting to crave more silence in a guided meditation.
You could be at a point where you find the voice of an instructor is starting to get annoying. Or there may not be enough spaces of silence for your liking, even though the teacher isn’t talking that much.
If you find the voice of an instructor is interrupting your practice and taking you AWAY from the present, you’re probably ready to increase your time in silence.
2. You can notice when your mind drifts and bring it back to your anchor without external guidance.
In your daily life and in guided meditations you are getting better at noticing the moments your mind is lost in thought, and you can direct it back to the present without someone reminding you to (at least most of the time!).
3. You have NOT recently experienced a distressing event or serious mental health issues.
Silent practice can do more harm than good if you decide to sit in silence directly after an emotionally distressing life event such as a breakup, or the loss of a loved one.
Similarly, if you have recently been experiencing distressing symptoms such as non-stop crying, high levels of anxiety, panic, dissociation, or psychosis, it’s better to continue with guided practice, or not at all, until you are feeling more stable.
4. You wish to explore your inner world on a deeper level.
If you want greater self awareness, silent practice facilitates this due to the removal of the distraction of someone else’s voice.
5. You desire further training to focus your attention
Instead of your attention switching back and forth between the guided meditation and yourself, you will train the mind to focus and re-focus on the breath, a sound, or a chosen object on your own.
It’s a useful practice to get into when you sit to dig a little deeper and examine where you are at in your practice, and how you are feeling.
And always remember that the best way to tell if you’re ready, is if you feel you’re ready!
