Focus on the out breath.

This evening, I tried out meditation again.

I stole borrowed a lighter from my brother's room, and lit up a purple candle I have in a holder on my bookshelf. I spent this evening tidying up my room, and I've got a little area between my bed and the wall where I now have a bohemian-looking recliner thing that goes on the floor. It's nicely shut off, so I can't see most of my room, and I can focus my attention.

Once all the lights were off, and all I had was the candle, I tried a different technique than last time. Instead of closing my eyes, I stared at it. I was in total darkness this time, but having light helped.

I don't know any proper rules or anything, so I just did the whole 'deep breath in, slow out' and so on, but my shoulders relaxed in ways that I didn't realise needed doing, and I feel a lot more aware of things, now. I ended up staring and breathing for ten minutes, and ended up with a nice mantra.

In: I do not need their support or understanding to be happy 
Out:  Their ignorance is their own.

I want to get into this habit as often as I can. I've realised I spend a lot of time doing things. Nothing important, just tumbling, or reading, or messing with my phone because I'm restless. I need to put aside time to just sort myself out, decide what I'm doing, and do it as best I can.

Note, there's a website called Zen Habits that is great for that sort of thing, for pointing out things like how rarely we breathe properly, how to stop procrastinating and do what has to be done. The link takes you to a masterpost, of sorts, that gives the popular posts, so you don't feel overwhelmed.