Tune up Your Awareness
Now let's be honest. You may have the best intentions to start your
meditation practice, but life will try to stop you. That's why you
have to make
an effort to devote time to practice. Try starting with just
15 minutes each day. Soon you'll learn to increase the length of
your
meditation, and you'll look forward to your special time with yourself
and your spirit.
Resources from the
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For some, the word meditation, brings to mind a
guru chanting atop a mountain or a monk sitting alone in a cave. Meditation
is simply
a
state of being
in which the active mind slows down. It will bring you to a place where
you can shut down your mental chatter and become more aware of the
subtle energies inside of you.
Meditating can be one of the most beneficial ways to begin "tuning up" your awareness toward your better self. We strive for financial success, good jobs, nice cars, and all those material things we think we need. These are all fabulous, but they're not the ultimate answer. When we reach for things outside of ourselves, we often move farther and farther away from our spark or life force. The most important thing in life is to feed our soul and try to maintain balance.
We must learn to pull way back from the strains of daily life and
go within to find peace. Meditation can do that for us.
Meditation can also produce great health benefits. For instance, the relaxation and calmness that comes from meditating can enhance the immune functions of the body, reduce blood pressure, increase physical energy, and assist in your overall well-being.
Now let's be honest. You may have the best intentions to start your
meditation practice, but life will try to stop you. That's why you
have to make
an effort to devote time to practice. Try starting with just
15 minutes each day. Soon you'll learn to increase the length of
your
meditation, and you'll look forward to your special time with yourself
and your spirit.
So many people think that meditating means that you must force your
mind to go blank. That's impossible. However, you can learn to watch
your
thoughts come in and go right out again. Soon, these same thoughts
will no longer have any power over you.
Here are few tips to get started:
> Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed for at least 15 minutes.
> Turn off the phone, play some soft music, and sit in a comfortable chair.
> Wear loose, unrestricted clothing.
> Find a position that will cause the least amount of strain on your muscles and joints. By choosing this posture, your body can relax, and your meditation won't be hindered by physical discomfort.
> Close your eyes and simply focus on your breath. Breathe into your stomach slowly, and let the air move up to your lower lungs and then into the chest area. Each breath in will bring more and more relaxation, and each exhalation will let go of all stress and tension. Do this for five minutes, lightly focusing on the regular rhythm of your breathing. If your mind starts to wander, just bring it back to your breath. Let your thoughts come in, acknowledge them, and slowly watch them leave again. Notice how it feels to be completely relaxed.
> If you have trouble focusing, imagine a symbol of your choosing. It can be a flower, a religious figure or icon, a word, or whatever is pleasing to you. Make it your own special symbol that you use every single time you meditate. At this point, just focus without straining on your symbol. If your mind wanders, focus on the breath and your symbol to bring you back.
Meditation is an amazing practice because it's filled with many wonderful surprises. They key is to start slow, and build up your awareness to a healthier, more energetic and more enlightened you!