Meditation was one of the biggest shifts in my life, a powerful step in my awakening journey.

When I was around 27, I was in a relationship that wasn’t going well. I felt unhappy, stuck, and unsure how to change anything. I didn’t have the tools to deal with how I felt, and I didn’t have healthy relationship models to guide me. So I decided to try to help myself, or at least change the way I was feeling. That’s when I turned to meditation. I had heard a lot about it, but I had never actually tried it.

At the beginning, I explored different types of meditation, different traditions and approaches. Eventually, I found something that worked for me at the time and I stayed consistent with it. I practiced every day, twice a day, for quite a while. I started noticing the benefits of meditation very quickly. At first, it was a sense of calm during or after the practice, then more focus, more energy, and more clarity.

After a couple of weeks, something really shifted. I remember being in a heated argument with my boyfriend at the time, and suddenly I became aware that I was angry. That might sound simple, but it felt completely new. That awareness created space around the emotion, and I was no longer fully lost in it. Instead of reacting automatically, there was a pause. And in that pause, I felt a choice. I could react, or I could respond. That moment was a revelation and showed me how powerful meditation can be.

Today, we also have science to support this. Studies show that regular meditation can physically change the brain. It can increase areas linked to learning and memory, like the hippocampus, strengthen the prefrontal cortex which supports focus and decision-making, and reduce the size of the amygdala, helping to lower our stress response. When people talk about the benefits of meditation, this is what they mean. It’s not just about feeling calm in the moment, it’s about creating long-term change in how you experience your life.

I often hear people say they can’t meditate or that they’re bad at it. If that’s you, try reframing it. Meditation is a practice, not something you either succeed or fail at. It’s something you return to again and again, and over time it creates change. Meditation doesn’t need to be empty of thoughts. The result of the practice may be a quieter mind, but the practice itself often isn’t.

Even if you spend 20 minutes thinking about your to-do list but keep bringing your awareness back to your breath, that is meditation. That is the practice. You are training your focus and learning to be present.

If you’re looking for a simple meditation for beginners, try this simple approach. Find a quiet, comfortable space, sit down, close your eyes, and bring your attention to your breath. Notice how it moves through your body. When your mind wanders, and it will, gently bring your awareness back to the breath. That’s it.

Consistency matters more than length. Five minutes every day is far more powerful than 30 minutes once a week. Over time, you will start to feel the shifts, and you may even begin to crave the practice.

As your awareness deepens, you begin to notice more than just your thoughts. You start to become aware of your energy and your field. This is where energy awareness meditation and healing meditation come in. For me, working with energy is an essential part of meditation. Practices like grounding, cleansing your energy, and protecting your space help you stay balanced and connected. They allow you to notice what is within your energy field and respond to it with more clarity.

I also love mantra meditation and guided practices, especially for beginners. They can be incredibly supportive and help you stay focused while gently deepening your awareness.

If you’d like to explore this further, try my free 10-minute energy awareness meditation. This short practice is a chance to slow down. It helps quiet your mind, relax your body, and reconnect you with your emotions and inner self. Think of it as a moment to check in, clear your head, feel grounded, and return to balance.