The Flow of Meditation

Meditation is easy and natural. We can make it difficult by trying too hard, having unrealistic expectations, or approaching it haphazardly, but at its core, meditation is simply being awake and aware — mindful.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian from The Jewel of Abundance:Finding Prosperity Through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga.

We often hear students say that they are frustrated with their practice because they can't seem to turn off the thoughts. Others may ask what is meditation supposed to feel like. Many think that they can't meditate because of the myriad thoughts that keep them distracted while they are sitting and they quit trying. As we sit in meditation on a regular basis and stay alert and aware, we begin to notice that we don't need to struggle to keep our attention on our point of focus. Watch for the shift from concentration into meditation. Yogacharya O'Brian tells us "When attention becomes steady, it begins to flow; no effort is required to hold it on point....Awareness flows, and expands, in a steady stream. It is peaceful and effortless."