I practice mindfulness meditation regularly for an average of ~7 min every day for the last ~5 years. I try to meditate 20 min daily.
Why I am doing it?
- Lowers anxiety. Brings higher control i.e. when extreme emotions would control me. Teaches patience. Enhances navigating through complex problems, decisions (i.e. it's making me a better designer)
- Teaches acceptance, of how it is here and now. Tones down the part of my mind consumed by project thinking, the illusion that fulfillment and achievement are somewhere further.
How to meditate?
There are two states of mind: one being here and now and one being immersed in thought. Close your eyes and focus on experiencing the present. What are the sounds? How are the sensations of your body? How does your own consciousness feel? How a cloud of sensations like emotions feels like? There is no way of doing it wrong. Experience the sensations of here and now. Naturally, thoughts will come and take you away in the abstract space of no-time and no-place. Your task is to discover that you are consumed by thought and come back to here and now. Be kind to yourself. This is an impossibly hard task. Accept that you will be failing it. (in order to feel any effects commit to 10min a day for two weeks)
Or just play
My fav guided meditation
How to think about meditation?
The advantage of meditation is not that you’re suddenly going to gain the superpower to control your internal state, it’s that you will recognize just how out of control your mind is.
Staying for a minute without getting distracted is a heroic feat. The longer you meditate the easier it is to recognize this "torrent of discursivity" which is preventing you from staying focused.
You can uncover that consciousness itself has intrinsic quality of wellbeing. Simply paying attention to the experience is the antidote to the feeling of dissatisfaction. That what is aware of sadness isn’t truly sad.
All of humanity's problems stem from men's inability to sit quietly in a room alone. – Blaise Pascal
Best argument
How to Master Your Mind? by
Best counter-argument
Listen to Adam Grant talking why he doesn't meditate on Sam Harris's Podcast (link to 50:30)
Naval Approach
What it really is, is the art of doing nothing. All you do for meditation is sit down, close your eyes. Whatever happens, happens. If you think – think. If you don't think – don't think. Don't put effort into it. Don't put effort against it ... Every meditation technique is leading you to the same thing which is witnessing. And concentration is a technique to steal your mind enough so you can then drop the object of concentration. So you could also just try going straight to the endgame ...
from Naval Ravikant on Joe Rogan's Show Listen on YouTube 1:19:50
from Naval Ravikant on Shane Parrish Podcast Link
Other Links
How I Tricked Myself Into Meditating by Jake Knapp
Waking Up Course meditation course by Sam Harriss (paid)