[jbsmith]

It's funny you should post this, we have 4 people in my family and each one of us is different in the way we optimize meditation.

I like repetitive sounds such as waves in the ocean or repetitive music or beats - that's all I need to get into a meditative state whereas my wife prefers guided meditation, someone's voice lulling her into different states of meditation.

For me, hearing someone else's voice, no matter how soothing, drives me absolutely crazy - it's the last thing I want when meditating. Still others prefer just to be in a completely quiet environment with their own thoughts or repetitive sequence of thoughts or sounds.

Try different things until you find what works for you.

Trick is not to try to hard or expect too much - find something that is comfortable and you will notice big differences over time.

Jeff