Read on Twitter
Day 1 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Got inspired by @harristhedean to do this.
One hour
of meditation first thing in the morning brought me much needed calmness and clarity during #COVID2019For those wondering what this is,
The key is to do nothing but observe your own thoughts. "No effort for or against your thoughts." as @naval says.
My anxiety and self-doubt have been major issues for me for years, and it wasn't much of a surprise that I had several such thoughts.
I didn't fight against them,
My anxiety and self-doubt have been major issues for me for years, and it wasn't much of a surprise that I had several such thoughts.
I didn't fight against them,
but I did try to analyse a few issues and resolve them, and I was partially successful.
Today's session went surprisingly well, I must say. I was reasonably relaxed throughout, and felt like I came out having better understood myself.
Hope tomorrow goes as well as today did
Today's session went surprisingly well, I must say. I was reasonably relaxed throughout, and felt like I came out having better understood myself.
Hope tomorrow goes as well as today did
Day 2 of the @naval 60-day challenge done.And I was totally wrong. Today's session went nowhere near as well as yesterday's did!
I woke up late, and I had to put off meditation till the evening so that it would be quiet and peaceful enough for it.
And when it came to it
I was fidgeting right from the start and waiting for the hour to end. It took me a while to quash those feelings and calm down.
If anything, on off-days like these, when it's not quite enjoyable or peaceful, it becomes an act of diligence and you exercise your will power,
If anything, on off-days like these, when it's not quite enjoyable or peaceful, it becomes an act of diligence and you exercise your will power,
which has its own upsides.
Seeing what I just wrote, I've certainly had a slight change in my outlook to life, and I'm not nearly as pessimistic as I was. I'm feeling more peaceful, and slightly less impulsive than just 2 days ago!
But I do hope to wake up earlier tomorrow.
Seeing what I just wrote, I've certainly had a slight change in my outlook to life, and I'm not nearly as pessimistic as I was. I'm feeling more peaceful, and slightly less impulsive than just 2 days ago!
But I do hope to wake up earlier tomorrow.
Day 3 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge down.Meditation is the best habit that anyone could inculcate in their lives.
Taking one hour to do this everyday makes you productive for the rest of your waking hours. There's no trade-off.
Day 4 of @naval 60-day meditation challenge successful.The more I do this, the more I realize that this challenge cannot be done perfectly, unless I reorganize my whole lifestyle.
To meditate for an hour in the morning in silence, I need to wake up early. To wake up early,
I need to sleep early. To sleep early, I need to finish my work early. And to do that, I need to stop procrastinating in the morning. 
For that, I need to have clarity and be more motivated and peaceful in the morning.
Guess what I have to do for that.
For that, I need to have clarity and be more motivated and peaceful in the morning.
Guess what I have to do for that.
Day 5 of @naval 60-day meditation challenge successful.Today, I was a bit sleepy to be honest. I don't remember most of my thoughts during the session.
But I do remember that I thought about what I would write in this tweet.
Yes, even this sentence.
Day 6 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge successful.Did it again in the evening, and it felt like I was sitting for more than 1 hour, with my feet paining towards the end of the session.
I need to get myself a more comfortable seating, and meditate in the morning.
Day 7 of the @naval 60-day challenge done.This was honestly the worst meditation session I've had till now.
This was AGAIN(!) done in the evening, with a lot of noise (it felt like that) around me. Believe me. I can't do anything about it.
But it wasn't useless.
Day 8 of @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Finally did it in the morning and felt amazing after.
Day 9 of @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.It's amazing that such different states are within the reach of the same mind.
One state is that of being calm and happy.
The other is that of impulsiveness and evil.
Without vigilance, it always descends into the latter.
Day 10 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Forgot to tweet about it yesterday.
The words "Do NOTHING" take on a different meaning after you try to do it.
All instinct in me and all my previous experiences with meditation tell me to "clear my mind" and not think
negative thoughts, but only positive ones.
But that's not what this challenge is about. Here, I have to let go of my control.
I am not the one going through the thoughts. They are ones going through me. Therefore, I cannot sift through them and pick the good ones.
But that's not what this challenge is about. Here, I have to let go of my control.
I am not the one going through the thoughts. They are ones going through me. Therefore, I cannot sift through them and pick the good ones.
Day 11 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.There's nothing like going from 'an hour is too long' to 'it's one hour already!?' in your meditation sessions.
Today's the first time that I can say with confidence that I attained a semi-thoughtless state. It's
definitely not the Inbox 0 state that @naval talks about and I feel that's quite a long time away.
But I did feel quite calm and peaceful, with only a few thoughts popping into my mind.
With more and more practice, you can almost 'feel' the action of your mind when
But I did feel quite calm and peaceful, with only a few thoughts popping into my mind.
With more and more practice, you can almost 'feel' the action of your mind when
you forcefully 'eject' an unnecessary thought from your mind. It's the psychic equivalent of pushing someone out of a room.
Of course, I didn't do these things during meditation, but this is just one of the benefits of regular meditation.
Of course, I didn't do these things during meditation, but this is just one of the benefits of regular meditation.
Day 12 of @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Today, my mom asked me whether I was asleep!
Now I see a lot of similarities between meditation and sleep. Just like in sleep, even during meditation, you gradually lose bodily sensations, BUT not the control of the senses.
The mind comes out calmer, and wiser after meditation, unlike after sleep.
Day 13 of @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.It seems like I've been doing this forever. Sitting down for an hour and doing nothing seems as natural as, say, taking a bath.
Day 14 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Whatever state that meditation takes us to has no consideration for time. If you're deep enough inside it, one hour is no different from two hours.
And the post-meditative state is just as indescribable.
It's amazing.
Day 15 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.I feel that I'm progressing well. When I come out of meditation, there are not many significant thoughts that I can remember.
The incessant chatter of the mind is getting lesser and lesser every day.
But I do have one doubt, @naval
The first day was the best, in terms of facing issues, coming to terms with some of them, and making behavioral changes in myself.
Since it's hard for me not to steer through my thoughts, is it okay if I prioritize some issues to think about?
The first day was the best, in terms of facing issues, coming to terms with some of them, and making behavioral changes in myself.
Since it's hard for me not to steer through my thoughts, is it okay if I prioritize some issues to think about?
Day 16 of @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Today, for the first time, I had to stop meditating at around the 30 min mark.
I hope to go back to one hour sessions from tomorrow.
Day 17 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Wasn't feeling well the last 2 days. So, I wasn't able to meditate yesterday.
Finally mustered up the strength to sit for an hour today and I feel clear-headed.
Phew!
Two days of no meditation!
I'm giving no excuses.
And I promise that, going forward, I will continue the chain and not miss a single day.
Two days of no meditation!
I'm giving no excuses.
And I promise that, going forward, I will continue the chain and not miss a single day.
Day 18 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Today's session was a particularly productive one and there wasn't much going through my head for one whole hour.
This gave me much-needed momentum to continue on and I need to tap into this.
Day 19 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Noticed something peculiar.
Even though meditation is quite different from sleep, there *are* some similarities. Right after I'm done, my mind is not as 'muddled' and confused as it is just after sleep, but its
processing and recollection abilities are somewhat reduced, just as in sleepy mode. It's like a CPU that's been put to sleep, and takes some time to boot and then speed up for things like gaming.
This is not about peak performance, but rather about psychically taking rest.
This is not about peak performance, but rather about psychically taking rest.
It is different from sleep in that the body is relaxed but not tired. In fact, body parts are so energized that they can perform much better than before.
All fatigue disappears from your body and from personal experience, speech and eloquence is improved as well.
All fatigue disappears from your body and from personal experience, speech and eloquence is improved as well.
Day 20 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.I'm definitely seeing some huge changes in myself due to meditation.
I've always been impulsive and undisciplined. I've never been able to sit myself down and hustle for hours if it's not something that I'm interested in.
For the first time in my life, I can push myself to do the most boring tasks for hours, if I want to.
I still have weaknesses and problems. But now, my mind usually doesn't run around like it used to. And if it does, I can bring it under control.
I still have weaknesses and problems. But now, my mind usually doesn't run around like it used to. And if it does, I can bring it under control.
Day 21 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Today, I was drifting off and was utterly confused by my own thoughts.
It was that exact same state of semi-drowsiness where we have weird thoughts and our mind makes connections that make no sense once you 'wake up'.
Day 22 of the @naval 60-day challenge done.
Day 23 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Yesterday, I put this off till the night, just before I sleep.
Even though it is a good way to have a peaceful night's sleep and have a good and early start to the next day, I do not recommend foregoing mornings for this.
Nothing can replace the impact of meditating for an hour, first thing in the morning.
Day 25 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Finally. Morning session again.
I strongly feel there's been a huge change in my control over my thoughts and my understanding of myself over the last 25 days.
Now, when I sit down to meditate, tranquility overcomes me.
Day 26 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Today, I felt the need to revisit Naval's 'How to Get Rich' podcast.
I found how relevant the idea of 'specific knowledge' is and how meditation can help understand ourselves better & to gauge our talents and interests.
Day 27 of the @naval 60-day challenge done.Motivation is not something that lasts long. It has to be replenished regularly.
And meditation is the best way to do that, along with a dose of discipline and peace of mind.
Day 28 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.Here is a thread I made on the book Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda.
I've been supplementing these breathing exercises in the evening with the usual morning meditation, for a week. They're the best way to calm the mind. https://twitter.com/SaffronKrishna/status/1243930115882377218
I've explained here how the traditional 'Pratyahara' step of the 8-step Raja Yoga is quite similar to Naval's meditation strategy. https://twitter.com/SaffronKrishna/status/1244300597643210754
Day 29 of the @naval 60-day challenge done.Nowadays, it feels like one hour goes by in a heartbeat. I'm getting more and more accustomed to sitting idly for 60 minutes straight, which I could have never imagined doing before.
Day 30 of the @naval 60-day challenge done.
Day 31 done.
Day 32 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.
Day 33 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.It's been more than a month since I started doing this, and it's now second nature.
The sensation of passage of time is not quite there when meditating, and now, it feels to me that 60 minutes is not a very long time.
Day 34 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.It's important not to expect huge results immediately.
Right now, I don't even care about achieving the 'Inbox 0' state.
The calm and clarity that I get on a daily basis is enough for me.
I now meditate bcz I enjoy it.
Day 35 of the @naval 60-day meditation challenge done.It is simply not possible to completely describe the benefits and experience of meditation to someone who hasn't done it even once.
It's like explaining the beauty of a rainbow to a blind person.
Day 36 of @naval challenge done.Can't believe I've been doing this for more than a month!
It never gets old, because it's not a repetition of the same thing.
It's a new adventure everyday.
Day 37 of @naval challenge done.
