I have been working towards a regular meditation practice for a couple of years. I began by listening to music with a positive subliminal message attached, this usually took place around midday and ended with me falling asleep. I believed that because it was subliminal and I could still hear it I was benefiting from resting and listening. Next I tried self trance/hypnoses recordings, I would be instructed to visualize! as the soothing voice lead me deeper and deeper and guided me.......usually to sleep! Perhaps lying down at noon wasn't the best practice for me. I then found guided meditation and this really helped me become more focused, I experienced some true insights.These guided meditations had a focus that kept my mind from wandering and me from dozing off. Sometimes my meditations lead to the past, or future, towards health and healing or even to problem resolution. I was really thrilled with the direction these recordings were taking me but I had not developed a consistant habit of using them and the benefits were intermittent at best. I wanted to become committed to the practice so I decided to make it a daily habit. Just as I consistently show up for my workout, yoga and personal hygiene habits every day I wanted show up to meditate. 
At first I would sit down to meditate AFTER my workout and that was pretty disastrous, I couldn't calm my mind, I just couldn't focus. I decided to try to implement my new habit first thing in the morning before my work out. Now, for me this was a tough thing to do for a couple of reasons, #1, this was the coveted spot for my workouts, I have been doing this for years. However, I reminded myself that my workout is a well established habit and I would make it happen no matter what! And, #2, I feared I would just fall back to sleep if I wasn't moving around. But I tried it and it worked for me, now everyday I get up at five a'clock, grab a drink of water and retreat to my "space", I put on some light music, (an instrumental called Weightless which is supposed to be the most relaxing song ever), I dim the lights and sometimes light a candle, I position myself comfortably with my legs crossed and I begin. I use different techniques to focus my mind, some I learned through practice some I created as I went along. I do whatever it takes to "tame the drunk monkeys" in my mind. The more I "practice" the easier and easier it is to stay focused. I can sit longer without feeling my back ache or my feet falling asleep. More and more often I am quick to slide into a light meditation and become unaware of my surroundings, things like the furnace blowing, the temperature in the room or the light coming through the window don't distract me. I arrive at a calm and focused place that is unparalleled to any other place I have been. Most days want to sit longer, I don't want it to end. I can completely relate to the Samurai in the video.
My meditation practice has improved my ability to focus. I find that I am able to stay on task and concentrate better and I have learned to focus on one thing at a time. Also, when I'm focused I find I can complete a job more efficiently and in half the time. I remember to focus on the progress of the project not worry about the possibility of failure. I find it difficult to believe that such a simple practice, sitting down and meditating, can have such an enormous impact on a persons life. Making meditation a daily habit has helped me become more focused and I can't wait to see
where my practice takes me next.
where my practice takes me next.
"Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand.
The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus."
Alexander Graham Bell
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