40 Day Meditation Practice

If you are looking for a major change in your life, then I highly recommend a 40-day meditation practice. At first glance, this sounds like a lot of commitment, and it is. But it is completely manageable. A 40-day meditation practice isn’t a full, non-stop 40 day practice, but instead involves 40 consecutive days of regular meditation practices.

This 40-day meditation practice can truly change your life for the better, and it is easier to accomplish than you think. Here is your practical guide to getting started!

Benefits of Meditation

Are you still on the fence about meditation? Are you unsure why you should be considering meditation at all? Well, you may want to look at some of the great benefits of meditation below.

• Stress reduction
• Anxiety control
• Helps with attention span
• Reduces age-related memory loss
• Can generate kindness
• Promotes better emotional health
• Helps with sleep

These are just a few of the many benefits that regular meditators can experience.

Takes 21 Days to Break a Habit

Experts have shown that it takes 21 days to break a habit, but it also takes 21 days to make an act a habit. If you want to go through a 40 day meditation practice, and eventually start making meditation part of your everyday life, then you need to start with a 21-day endeavor to really make meditation a habit. Once it is a habit, you will find it is much easier to make meditation part of your life.

So how exactly do you make meditation a habit?

There are a few tips we have that will help you get into the routine of meditation so that it becomes part of your everyday life.

• Make a commitment. The first and most important thing that you need to do when it comes to making a meditation a habit is being committed to it. If you go into the process with your whole heart and are completely committed to making meditation part of your life, you are already halfway to your goal.
• Show up, every day. The hardest part about making meditation part of your life? Showing up. Once you get to the mat, the rest is all about you and all about relaxation. If you can show up and commit to your meditation, you are doing most of the hard work already.
• Give yourself a timer. It would be great to be able to meditate for as long as you want every day, but it works much better when you set a timer—especially if you are trying to make it a habit. Setting a timer makes it much easier for you to work meditation into your schedule and make it more manageable to do every day. Typically, all you need is 15 to 20 minutes per day.
• Remember, consistency is key. If you want to make meditation, or anything a habit, then you need to be as consistent as possible. With meditation we recommend practicing in the same place and at the same time every day.
• Make a ritual with your meditation practice. If you really want to make meditation a habit, then one of the best ways to get your mind ready for meditation is to make a ritual out of the process. Do the same thing every time you meditate. For some people this may mean taking a shower, changing close, having a cup of tea or anything in between. The more ritualistic the better.

Stick with this practice for 21 days and you will not only find that you are over halfway through your 40 day meditation practice, but that you will feel as though your meditations are starting to be a habit that you won’t want to break.

Self-Discipline/Devotion Practice

Making meditation is a majority of the battle, but you need to have some self-discipline in order to really make this part of your life. Getting through a 40-day meditation practice and carrying that practice through past these 40 days is going to take a great deal of self-discipline.

You must be devoted to your practice and there are a few ways to keep up the good work. The more dedicated you are to continuing your practice, the better your results will be. The more dedicated you are to keeping up with meditation for the full 40 days, the better your results will be.

However, as you go through this process, it is important to remember to be kind to yourself along the way. You are bound to face a number of challenges during this 40-day practice, and it is OK if you miss a day or can’t stay focused on your meditation practice during one session. The important thing to do is to stick with it.

Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day, just stay dedicated and keep pushing forward. This should be a type of self-care and something that offers emotional cleansing so you can enjoy some benefits in your life.

Setting Intentions

Once you have your set meditation schedule in your mind, it is time to start setting your intentions for your practice. Setting an intention can be a powerful way to focus your mind and thoughts and to help bring good things into your life. Here’s how you set intentions for your meditation practice.

Think about the following things:

• What matters the most to you?
• Is there something negative that you would like to let go of in your life?
• Who do you want to forgive?
• What makes you proud?
• What do you want most in your life?
• Is there a word to describe yourself when you are your happiest?
• What makes you proud?
• What do you want to build or create in your life?
• Are there fears you want to release?
• What are your biggest goals?
• Who or what are you most grateful for?

Asking yourself these questions can help you set an intention for your meditation practice. You should focus on that intention throughout your entire session.

With the right intentions, some dedication and a commitment to bettering yourself, you will be surprised by all that you can get out of 40 days of meditation practice. You may also be surprised by how much you love making meditation part of your life and how much longer you continue meditating moving forward.