I've meditated each day for the last 3 days and plan to continue this as long as I benefit. I just want to know how can I tell if I'm meditating correctly? I've watched a lot of YouTube videos from monks and swamis and have been doing my best to figure out what works for me.
What I've been doing is using the "Aum" chant and form meditation. This means that I continue to focus on the sound "Aum" and an image that I create in my mind. This image is sometimes an "instrument " that I don't know the name of and haven't seen before but it appears in my mind and vibrates while I chant "mmmmmmm" then when I inhale on the silent syllable of the chant, the instrument becomes still until the next time I chant "mmmmmmmm".
 When the image becomes less sharp or disappears, I know then my mind is wandering or thoughts are intruding so I refocus on the sound and try to bring the image into clearer focus as well.
I have already noticed a difference in my state of being, mood, and mind just from using this technique for 3 days. My longest session was earlier today when I meditated 10 minutes. I plan to try 30 minutes later this evening, after most of my last meal is hopefully finished digesting.
I looked to meditation as a way to heal from intrusive and obsessive thoughts that have been creating a lot of problems for me in my life. Exploring the YouTube videos and hearing different monks and swamis talk about the mind and consciousness had also been very helpful in shifting my perspective. I feel like the meditation is already helping me immensely to control my mind and refocus on natural healthy and calm thoughts when the intrusive and obsessive thoughts come now. It's almost as if these thoughts are floating by me now, like leaves blowing in the wind on the other side of a window. Whereas before I tried any meditation, I could not seem to distance myself from the thoughts, it was as if they were actually a part of me. But now I see they aren't.  I know that meditation is a journey and that I'm just beginning, but for now, this is my strategy and I plan to build on it to grow in the practice.
Does anyone have any tips or advice for me? I welcome all ideas :)