Here’s a simple overview of meditation:

• Dictionary.com defines the word “meditate” as: to engage in thought or contemplation; reflect.

• Meditation is a simple practice of shifting your focus and training your mind.

• Traditionally, meditation has been used to achieve inner peace and a sense of well-being.

• There are many different techniques for meditation but most require you to sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes and bring your attention to something specific.

Best,

Scott Whitlock

Hi _______,

 

Taking the time to meditate seems counterproductive doesn’t it?

 

After all, you’re taking time out of your busy day to just sit there.

Perhaps it’s even a little bit selfish, taking that time just for yourself when others depend on you…

 

At first glance, and perhaps even for the first few times a person tries to meditate, results are generally questionable.

 

In my beginning days of meditation I truly thought that I’d be better off just getting up and making things happen, taking care of a seemingly endless

list of responsibilities.

 

Two things forced me to be more open minded and actually try meditation.

1: the seemingly constant press coverage of the benefits of meditation for both mental and physical health. And 2, the respect I have for several successful

personal friends who practice meditation.

 

Studies show that to create a habit, most skills must be repetitively practiced for 21 days. I knew I could do anything for 21 days and committed to learn it.

 

Well, two weeks is all that it took, and over the years I’ve learned that my meditation time is too important to skip. I also learned a powerful

technique for a brief night time meditation that literally programs me for success the following day.  The difference in productivity and balance is

dramatic!  It really needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated, but until then, if you’re skeptical, there are hundreds if not thousands of

studies you can find that confirm the benefits.

 

In a nut shell, here’s what Meditation does for me: it helps me deal with stress and obstacles during everyday life, more confidently, elegantly and

purposefully.  I also have an overall sense of balance and well-being,  My foundation is much more stable and things that used to bother me are now

taken in stride.

 

I find more opportunities than obstacles and I’m much more grateful for all situations with the end result being a much more happy and purposeful self.

That’s just during the day, at the end of the day, I’m able to fall asleep more quickly and experience a deeper, more restful sleep every night. That

hasn’t always been the case and has made a nice difference.

 

If this sounds too good to be true, it’s not. Again, don’t take my word for it, the benefits are actually more numerous than what I have sited here

which are attested by seemingly countless formal studies.

 

Once you understand the benefits of meditating, it’s hard to justify not taking time for yourself to relax and calm your mind, reducing the stress and tension in your life.  It’s amazing how much better our minds support us when we give them the attention they need.

 

So where do you start?

To begin seeing the benefits of meditation, here are some basics steps you can do anytime: This will probably seem difficult at first but give it a try.

 

First, set aside a time everyday that’s dedicated for quieting your mind, morning is typically a great time and then briefly at night.

 

- Find a quiet place that’s relatively free from distractions.

 

- Sit in a way that is comfortable to you.

 

- Relax.

 

- Bring attention to your breath.  Feel and hear the air flowing in and out of your nostrils.

 

- Begin to relax your body with each exhale from head to toe.

 

- Realize that thoughts will come and go, and that’s okay, completely natural and expected.

 

- Bring your attention back to your breath and relaxed body.

 

- When you feel it’s time to resume your day, remain seated and slowly regain an energetic posture. Smile upon yourself, knowing that this little gift of time will re-energize you and put you in a position to give the gift of a better, more fulfilled and on purpose YOU to others you meet during the day.

 

Whenever you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, you can take a five-minute break from your day and practice this simple meditation.  You will literally feel the stress melt away and the rest of your day will become more enjoyable and productive. Not only will you feel the benefits of this simple meditation, but those around you will also notice a pleasant difference.

 

We all know the saying: “Practice makes perfect”, the truth is, “Perfect Practice” makes perfect, however, practicing meditation is a little bit different than most skills because the goal is simply to let your mind recreate the harmony between the conscious, subconscious and body.

 

By giving yourself allotted times of peace you can accomplish great things so don’t worry about meditating perfectly, there really is no such thing, however, there are some tricks that will greatly help both beginning and experienced practitioners.

 

Meditation can be difficult at first and many people give up or never even try simply because of the initial discipline of learning a new talent.

 

This is where I was before discovering guided meditation.  I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right or if I had really gained anything from my time spent meditating until I had practiced for a couple of weeks. One day I noticed that I was tight on time and had to skip my regular morning meditation. It was then that I realized a feeling of disappointment and felt somewhat less complete and purposeful than usual. That was the moment that it all clicked for me! Since then, I always make meditation a part of my day, even if I have to skip it in the morning, for whatever reason, I always catch up during the day.

 

To jump start a meditation practice, many people begin with a guided meditation CD or MP3, this guides you through a simple meditation allowing you to quickly receive the benefits that come from years of experience at the touch of a button.

 

Instead of spending hours practicing and wondering if you are doing it right, consider some help from a guided meditation.  Just sit back and listen as the professionals bring meditation to you.

 

All the Best,

 

Scott Whitlock

http://balancedlifemeditation.com

What comes to mind when you hear the word “Meditation?”

I used to think of meditation and picture someone sitting with legs crossed, fingers clasped, while saying “OM.”  I would think of sitting in a room with lit candles and incense burning while trying to clear my mind or think of nothing.

Dictionary.com defines the word “meditate” as: to engage in thought or contemplation; reflect.

As the definition states, meditation can be defined very broadly.

You can meditate while at the office, washing the dishes or mowing the lawn.  When you shift your and attention to one thing, you are meditating.

Research shows that there are many benefits that come from meditating.  To gain the most from meditating, experts suggest a practice done everyday for several months.

Here are some of the most popular meditation techniques used today:

• Breathing – bringing your attention to your breath, counting the number of breaths you take and concentrating on deep breathing.
• Mantra – repeating a word or phrase that is meaningful or significant to you.
• Visualization - using your imagination to create a peaceful place that you can go to.
• Body Sensations – paying attention to the sensations that you are feeling in your body.
• Nature – spending time contemplating while surrounding yourself with nature. This could be a long walk through a nature trail or simply sitting on a park bench and enjoying a beautiful day.
• Mindfulness – becoming aware of the present moment, letting go of the past and taking a break from your anticipation of the future.
• Audio Tones/Binaural Beats – listening to recordings that have certain tones embedded in them that create brain wave patterns of desirable states.
• Guided Meditation – following the instructions of an expert while they talk you through a meditation session either in person or on a recording.

Using any of these techniques can be beneficial to you.  They will have a calming effect on your mind and increase overall feelings of well-being and happiness.

I will go into further details on the benefits of the different types of meditation in future posts.

For now you can begin to think about what it is you want to get out of a meditation program.  This will help you select the best program for your specific goals from better health to personal improvement, to living a more balanced life.

Best,

Scott Whitlock