Redditors, here is my best worst metaphor to help guide you in meditation.

Our brains are video games that we are constantly playing. Meditation is putting down the controller and looking away for a few seconds. Even just a few seconds a day, will make a huge difference in how you feel.

Find a comfortable spot. Sit or lay down, makes no difference. Deep breath in through the nose, exhale. Repeat at comfortable pace.

Now, watch your thoughts. That's all it is. Just watching. You are meditating.

Here’s where it gets tricky, don’t participate in your thoughts.

The difference between watching and participating: Thoughts: “I am sitting here like a jackass trying to meditate and I don’t even think I am doing this right. Does this shit actually work or not? Am I too stupid to get this? I have other things I could be doing like homework, laundry, calling that girl. If I called her what would be my excuse? What if I told her that I needed to borrow that book...”

The thoughts are the first three sentences, in this case the questions.

The participation in those thoughts or the fantasy, is what you could be doing instead of sitting on your ass meditating. This is your brain picking up the controller and playing the game.

Adjust your mind to just watch your thoughts like a video. Be entertained or horrified, but do not follow them down the rabbit hole. Do not judge your thoughts. You are not creating them, they just pop up of their own accord.

You will inevitably get frustrated because you won’t be able to resist the fantasies. When this happens, put down the controller and bring your awareness back to watching your thoughts. Breath. Relax.

When you bring your awareness back to watching, congratulate yourself. You just did your first mental push-up. You are now on your way to sculpting that flabby brain into a lean mean calming machine.

Every time you meditate, or even just attempt to (15 minutes or less is fine), you are strengthening your brain. It takes a shit ton of practice and is hard as hell. But the calming effects are extraordinary. That is why there are Buddhist monasteries full of shaven headed monks who look like badasses - because they are some of the strongest people on this planet. You just can’t tell from the outside.

If this is helpful in any way let me know. I was thinking of doing a series of bad metaphors on how to meditate.