You may be asking yourself how meditation, an ancient practice, could possibly be relevant today. Yet here we are, and research is telling us that it has been linked to health and well being.
Surely there must be a hitch. How can something as simple as relaxation and clearing your mind be good for you?
You hear a lot about meditation, but what exactly is it? How could asking your brain to avoid thinking (aka worrying) be considered therapeutic? “Emptying” the mind should be a lot easier than “filling” it up (aka as learning new things) shouldn’t it?
It should be, but believe it or not, trying not to “think” is hard to do. We are programmed to think; thinking is what we do. We think, worry, agonize, and dream about every imaginable scenario 24 hours a day.
The goal of meditation is to quiet your mind to give your brain a chance to relax and recharge. It isn’t as easy as it sounds; I know this because I have been “thinking” about getting started for years. I’ve read dozens of articles and books on the subject and I have a number of DVDs and CDs, but I never seem to have the time to sit and do nothing. This is my year though and I hope it will be yours too.
Try this. I know is sounds a little simplistic, but if you could sit quietly in one position (no, you do not have to fold yourself into a pretzel, just sit comfortably) and concentrate on breathing in and out for as little as 5 minutes at a time you can meditate.
The experts will tell you to tune out distractions (phone, text messaging, television and the like) and try this:
Inhale slowly and smoothly, pause (count 1), then exhale just as slowly, pause (count 2). Do this sequence over and over. Start with 5 minutes and then shoot for more. The recommended time is 20 minutes but it is more important to do 5 minutes every day than 60 minutes once a week. When random thoughts (grocery lists, chores to do, places to go etc) float through your mind don’t despair, just gently redirect your attention back to your breathing?
There are many types of meditation but the premise is the same. Once you have mastered the simple art of “focusing “on your breathing you can branch out if you choose. Let me know what works for you.
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