Should we meditate upon something or just be aware of our thoughts?

I believe that there is more than one reason to meditate and therefore more than one technique to achieve the end goals that you are looking for.

It's fine to use a theme for your meditation, like selflove, acceptance, compassion. This may help to feel each meditation different.

I’m not sure how to answer this question. Meditation is a state of mind, it could be of anything. It’s the silence & self awareness that seem to be the only constant.

I believe both approaches are acceptable. However, I find that focusing on your breathing and just being aware of the thoughts that come into your mind works better for me and most beginners. Feel free to experiment, though, and find the approach that fits you best!

There are several ways of meditating. I think it is best to just be mindful early on. Practising observing your thoughts without being attached to them and following them down the rabbit hole. This is a pretty crucial skill early on. When thoughts or feelings arise, you can merely note that they are there, without dwelling on them.

However, there are methods of meditation where you put yourself in a relaxed resting mind, and then 'drop' a question or thought into your mind and notice which feelings arise. Don't judge yourself or question those feelings, just allow them to happen and note them. Afterwards you may reflect and learn something about how you feel.

I hope this helps! The real key is to be consistent. This is definitely a skill, and it takes time to learn. Stick with it!

Either one is fine! I usually just try to be mindful, but focusing on a single thing is good in some situations as well.

Personally, I just go with the flow and do whichever of the two that I need or feel like doing on a given day. I don't believe there's a right or wrong way to go about it. Just focus on whatever is going to make you feel better that day.

Mix it up! You can try something different every day. The important thing is to do at least one meditation activity every day. Find what works for you. Experiment. That's what life is all about, just the universe experimenting itself.

It really depends on your needs. Sometimes just focusing on being is all that's needed. Other times if our minds are over active for example it can be beneficial to your practice to give the mind a task. Focus on a word and the singularity of that word in the mind or listen to a guided meditation. ♡

Meditation is in part the act of paying close attention to something. The object of attention could be many things. It could be the breath, a word, an image, a candle flame, sensations in the body. Observing thoughts, can be done during meditation, but they are not good objects of attention for a practice. This is because the untrained mind can easily become lost in thought and forget it is meditatation at all. A better approach would be to choose an object of attention – like the breath – try and observe it closely and continously. Can you observe it going in and out of your nostrils? Keep your attention fixed on that area around the nose. How does it feel when it goes out of the nostrils, and then comes back in? Can you feel one side more than the other? Does it move at the same speed or stop? Be like a scientist observing everything objectively. When your attention wanders and you notice you have been lost in thought, gently bring your attention back to the breath without feeling frustrated or defeated. Start again. See if you can extend the periods you are aware of breath and if thoughts come just let them play in the background of your mind like a TV or radio. As your attention gets stronger, they will weaken. Remember it takes time to master, but any time spent in this state of focused attention will be progress. Best of luck.

You should try both. Meditating on something is best for beginners. When I started out I felt it was here.
You should try different types of meditation and not stick to just one type.

I think that the art is not to over do, just to think about how you feel at the moment and not to force any particular thoughts. It helps me to ask myself questions like what do you smell, which sounds you hear, what do you feel (cold, itchiness). In this way, you kind of train to be aware at least couple of minutes of yourself

I think it should be a little but if both! We really become aware of our thoughts while meditating, in my opinion. But I believe it is possible for someone to be able to be aware of our thoughts without meditating. It is really all up to you and your perspective of things!

I have following the very beginner “guided meditations” fr Fabulous App during which some of the narrators ask you to consider certain aspects of your life, possible scenarios, or hypothetical conditions- somewhat similar but still unique compared to other Apps out there. There are guided meditations on the Fab app that also ask you to let your mind wander and then ask you to re focus and bring attention back to your breathing and awareness of self. I think the more advanced one becomes with meditations, one goal may very well be to allow your mind to be “still” and concentrate on “nothing” and allow wandering thoughts to come and go.

Awareness is the key of meditation. Some think that mediation means sitting , closing eyes and so. But, according to great monks who are meditation teachers, meditation can be done whenever, wherever by being aware of what you are doing. Ex:if you are eating, you have to concentrate on eating. There may be millions of thoughts coming in to your mind that are not related to eating. So, even if you are being aware of those thoughts, I think it may not lead you to relax,calm down or improve your concentration. To gain the real results of mediation, it's better to focus on something. Just like focusing on your breath.

Before being able to "just be aware", the mind needs practice of focusing on one thing alone. Preferably the breathing.

I think it is good to do both. Both being aware of one's thoughts, in general, and meditation on a particular issue gives me hope that I can face my fears or whatever the situation may be.

We concentrate on the breathing. If and when thoughts keep coming in. You acknowledge it. And then let it go. Without judgement. Don't worry thoughts will come in. It's okay. Just let it drift through and keep bringing your awareness to the Breath. It anchors us to the present. It is very calming when you really watch and feel your breathing. I hope this helps. ♡

I let the thoughts flow naturally. The more you try to control what you’re meditating upon the less focused you’ll be on your practice.