5. Discipline: You need to make the effort. You need to prioritize your time. Give yourself permission to take this time for yourself. We need to believe that is it important to us. A burning enthusiasm and a sincere yearning will bring results.

6. Prayer: Experienced meditators have found that saying a brief prayer before meditation will help their meditations. Ask for “help” from your inner self, your higher self, the Divine Principle, to deepen your meditations.

7. Right Attitude: Have the right attitude towards your meditations. Feel good will toward yourself and for your practice. If you find yourself thinking “damn, I need to meditate” then your meditation will not be fruitful. If you feel this way, pray and ask for help…practice surrender.

8. Stretch and Breathe Deeply: Before you meditate, stretch out the tensions from your body, and take a few deep breathes. Deep breathing before you meditate will help to oxygenate your blood cells and your brain cells. As your metabolism slows down during meditation, your breathing slows down. You want to make sure that your body has the oxygen it will require for a still and deep meditation.

2. Choose a consistent time: Choose a time when you will not be distracted or interrupted. Mornings are best, or after work before supper. This will help to build the habit of meditation. Meditation before going to sleep is not recommended, as this may put you to sleep (sleep is not meditation), or make you too energized and may affect the quality of your sleep.

3. Choose a sacred space: Choose a specific and dedicated space for your regular mediation practice, where it is ‘relatively’ quiet and you will not be disturbed. Make this a “sacred” space. Personalize it with sacred pictures and sacred books. Unplug the phone.

4. Be Regular with your Practice: To begin, try to meditate 15-20 minutes daily. In time, you may want to extent this period, or even add a second daily meditation session.