By Sharon Truelove
“When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom, let it be. . .” John Lennon
In this fast-pasted world we live in, it can be difficult to find the time to just let it “be”.
It is important, though, to make time to “be”. We need to find a balance with our physical, mental, and spiritual self to feel wholeness. The practice of meditation can help to promote a feeling of being whole and well-being. It has been proven to improve mental clarity, improve health issues such as high blood pressure, depression and many others too numerous to list here.
Meditation has been associated with many healthy benefits. It can help create an emotional state that aids in analyzing emotional issues that one might wish to change, like anger, hatred, resentment….or it can help to promote a positive mental response to daily life.
“[A study that was done in 2008 by college students found that it can bring about physical gain by actually changing neurological processes and the] finding was supported by an expert panel at the National Institutes of Health”.1
History traces the practice of meditation back to most all cultures in their spiritual practices and in modern times it has became more about focusing on stress reduction, relaxation and self-improvement, rather than spiritual communion with one’s God or higher being.
Try it for yourself and you may find it becomes an import part of your daily routine.
Start with 20 minutes once a day and soon you will be able to increase it to 40 minutes twice a day.
1. Set aside a time regularly each day. You will gain the most benefit if it is done at the same time each day. Early morning or before going to bed are common times to practice meditation.
2. Find a quiet place where you can relax without interruption.
3. Sit or lie comfortably.
4. Relax your body.
5. Be aware of your breathing.
6. Silence or clear the mind. When the mind wanders, bring it back to your breathing. If you have a lot of trouble with your mind wondering, you can add an object to look at that is restful to you: candle, tree, or even a stuffed animal.
Challenge: Follow the 6 steps above. Discuss:
- What did you enjoyed most?
- What did you find most challenging?
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation
Comments are closed.