Mindfulness Meditation: What Does It Feel Like?

Mindfulness meditation is a practice that can be challenging to describe in words. While the goal is not to feel anything specific, the experience can evoke a range of emotions and physical sensations. Some people describe it as a feeling of calmness, peace, and clarity, while others may feel frustrated, tired, or restless. During meditation, it's common to have a whirlwind of feelings, including calm, frustration, happiness, excitement, and rage, all within a short period. The physical body may also experience tingling, scratching, or random aches. Ultimately, the feeling of meditation is unique to each individual, and it is a deeply personal experience that may vary from day to day.

Calmness and serenity

Meditation is a practice that can lead to a range of feelings, and calmness is one of the most well-known and sought-after sensations. It is a deep and peaceful serenity, a feeling of time slowing down. The mind stops racing, and thoughts slow down. It is a profound feeling of satisfaction in being in the present moment.

The feeling of calm can linger long after the meditation practice has ended. People who go on week-long meditation retreats often report feeling calmer for months afterwards. This feeling of calm can also be described as a sense of clarity, where the mind feels expanded and empty, like a clear blue sky. It is as if a crowded attic has been decluttered and is now an open field, vast and serene.

During the calm moments of meditation, the body often feels light, airy, supple, and flexible. A warm sensation spreads from the toes to the head, enveloping the body in a peaceful feeling. At the peak of meditation, the body is completely relaxed, free from tension and sleepiness.

While calmness is a desirable outcome of meditation, it is important to note that it is not the only goal. Meditation can evoke a range of emotions, and it is natural to experience a whirlwind of feelings during a session. Frustration, restlessness, and boredom are common, especially for beginners. However, by observing these feelings without judgement and letting them go, one can eventually reach a state of calm and serenity.

Meditation teaches us to let go of thoughts and feelings rather than analysing and acting on them. It is a practice that requires patience and consistency, and the benefits may not always be immediate. However, with time and dedication, the feeling of calm and serenity can be a rewarding outcome of a mindfulness meditation practice.

Frustration and tiredness

Frustration

Frustration is a common feeling among beginner meditators. It may lead many people to stop practicing, but it is a perfectly normal and healthy part of meditation. It is the feeling that tells you "this is pointless", "this is not going well", "this meditation session is unproductive", or "you are failing at this". Like any feeling, it is something which you must observe, without reacting, and learn to let go of.

Tiredness

Feelings of tiredness may also arise. Your body may feel heavy, sluggish, and sleepy. This is a difficult part of a meditation session, but a useful one nonetheless. Like thoughts of frustration, these feelings are just feelings, nothing more, nothing less.

Overcoming Frustration and Tiredness

Use these feelings and incorporate them into the practice. Notice where you feel these feelings most. Become curious about them and notice them without placing any judgment on them or following them with thinking.

The act of meditating is not about trying to feel something specific. It is about observing your thoughts and feelings without reacting to them. It is about being aware of what you are experiencing in the moment and maintaining a position of impartial observation.

Heightened senses

Mindfulness meditation is a practice that can heighten your senses. During meditation, your senses may feel heightened or different from usual. This is a sign that your practice is evolving. It is important to resist the temptation to try to replicate, analyse, or reject these experiences. Instead, maintain a natural and objective awareness of whatever arises without grasping at it.

When you are meditating, you may find that your sense perceptions are heightened. You may feel more in tune with your surroundings, noticing things you may not have before. You may become more aware of sounds, sights, smells, and sensations. For example, you may notice the feeling of the wind on your skin, the sounds of birds chirping, or the scent of flowers in bloom.

This heightened sensory awareness can lead to a deeper connection with the present moment. You may find yourself becoming more observant, noticing small details and appreciating the beauty in everyday things. You may also find that your senses are more sensitive, and you may need to make adjustments to your environment to create a more comfortable meditation experience. For example, you may find that you are more sensitive to light or sound and may need to create a calmer, more secluded space for your practice.

Additionally, your sense of taste may be enhanced. You may find that food tastes more vibrant and flavourful, and you may become more mindful of your eating habits and cravings. You may also find yourself craving healthier, more nourishing foods as your body and mind become more attuned to what it needs.

Remember, the key to mindfulness meditation is to observe these heightened senses without judgement and to allow yourself to fully experience the present moment.

A sense of vastness

Meditation can be a way to achieve a sense of vastness. This feeling usually comes after long periods of calm when the mind is at rest. It is described as a feeling of emptiness, vastness and beauty, like a clear blue sky.

Imagine your mind as a small, crowded attic filled with thoughts, ideas, judgements and perceptions. During meditation, this attic begins to declutter and lose its cobwebs. Suddenly, the small attic becomes an open field, as wide as the ocean or the sky. This feeling of vastness is often accompanied by a sense of clarity and consciousness. It is as if the restraints of self-centredness have been loosened, and the mind has shifted to a more subtle kind of awareness.

The sense of vastness can be a profound experience, making you feel as though you have transformed into something more than human. It is a feeling of connection to a world beyond the material one we inhabit. It is a sense of the divine, of something indescribable that cannot be contained within the barriers of language.

The feeling of vastness is just one of the many possible experiences during meditation. It is important to remember that there is no single "meditative feeling" and that each session can be different. The goal is not to achieve a specific feeling, but to allow yourself to have a truly deep and unique meditation experience.

Mindfulness as a journey

Mindfulness meditation is a journey into the self, a path towards self-discovery and a way to connect with your inner self. It is a practice that can lead to profound insights and a deeper understanding of oneself and the world around us.

The First Steps

The first steps on this journey can be challenging, and many beginners find it difficult to concentrate. Instead of focusing on their breathing, their minds wander, pulled by worries, hopes and plans for the future. This can lead to feelings of frustration, a sense that meditation is pointless or unproductive. These feelings are normal and even experienced meditators can feel them. It is important to remember that meditation requires patience and that, with time, the ability to focus will improve.

The Path Opens Up

As you continue on your journey, you may start to notice subtle experiences and sensations that indicate your practice is working. You will find it easier to concentrate on one activity at a time, and you will feel less stressed about the future, becoming more in tune with the present moment. Your senses may feel heightened, and you will become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, both during meditation and in everyday life.

The Destination

The destination of this journey is a sense of vastness and clarity. It is a feeling of expanded consciousness, as if your mind has become decluttered and is now empty and clean. It is a state of deep calm and peace, where thoughts slow down and the mind stops racing. This feeling can linger long after your meditation practice has ended, leaving you with a sense of satisfaction and bliss.

The Unexpected Turns

However, the journey of mindfulness meditation is not always a straightforward path. It can lead to unexpected places and experiences. You may find that your sense of time changes during deep meditation, with time passing more quickly or slowly than you anticipated. You may also find that your body reacts in unexpected ways, with random aches and tingling at the start of a session, or with heavy, sleepy feelings. These physical sensations are a normal part of the process, and it is important to accept and embrace them without judgement.

The Return Home

Ultimately, the journey of mindfulness meditation is a return to yourself, a rediscovery of your inner peace and a connection with your deep inner self. It is a journey that can be challenging, rewarding, and surprising, often all at once. It is a path that is unique to each individual, and the experiences and sensations will vary from person to person. Embrace the journey, and trust that it will lead you to a deeper understanding of yourself and your place in the world.

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