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
