Are you looking for something to nourish your mind and soul? Perhaps you need a little break from the noise of the world? Maybe a simple meditation is all you need?
Meditation might seem more complicated and out of this world than it actually is, and ironically, you don’t need a calm mind or stress free thoughts to do it. In fact, meditation is designed to help you create that moment of calmness and peace deep within yourself.
What is Meditation?
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years across different cultures. It is the use of techniques that are designed to both elevate your awareness and focus your attention, allowing you to achieve a clearer, healthier sense of perspective.
In meditation, you are not shutting down your thoughts and feelings. Whether or not you believe your thoughts to be chaotic and odd, you are learning to observe them without judgment and eventually, to better understand them and be more in control of yourself.
Why Practice Meditation?
In today’s fast moving world our minds are constantly cluttered by all the stimulus around us, interruptions such as an urgent email, a like notification on your Facebook, a work deadline you must beat, or even something as routine as tending the food in your oven right now!
All these micro-stresses that are happening constantly in our lives can accumulate over time and lead to negative emotions, feelings such as anger and frustration can all too easily build up. These stimuli, like worries for the future or regrets for the past, will take our mind away from being centred and “in the moment”. They isolate your mind from being aware, and from living in the present.
Performing meditation allows you to be in a state of self-awareness, a space where you can focus your attention and organize any jumbled thoughts that may be clouding your mind and causing stress. This in turn can result in enhanced physical and mental well-being.
How to Meditate?
Step 1: Find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably for at least 5 minutes. It could be a chair, on the floor or the bed – anywhere that works for you.
Step 2: Sit up straight and tall, and find your physical stillness.
Step 3: Try to relax by “softening” all the muscles in your body from head to toe. Do not clench your teeth.
Step 4: Become aware of your breathing, observe each inhale and exhale.
Step 5: If your mind starts wandering, just notice your thoughts and let them go, bring your awareness back to your breathing.
Step 6: Continue for at least 5 minutes, coming back to your breath every time your mind starts to wander.
Step 7: Repeat these steps every day.
See? Looks easy right?
In reality, being still and silent are two of the hardest things to do, just remember that this is an exercise for the mind and just like any other exercise you have to give your mind and body time to adjust to it.
The key in meditation practice, is to let your thoughts flow like passing cars on a highway, you are not in control of the cars but instead you are an observer, watching your thoughts at a distance as they pass by.
And if you feel you are focusing too much or holding a thought for too long, just revert back to your breathing. Inhale – exhale. This will help you restart and clear your mind.
Your health works in multiple dimensions, nourishing your mind is as essential as feeding your physical body. Try out 10 to 15 minutes of meditation today, and in doing so take a step closer to a better version of you.
