Quiet time and Meditation
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How much time do you devote to silence?
If you’re like most people these days, probably not much. We are delguged with information 24×7 these days. It’s becoming more and more challanging to break away from things and just take a few minutes to breath. As a result, stress levels go up and so does depression. Millions and millions of people are taking anxiety and depression medications.
Something I have found to be just as effective as drugs is meditation. I don’t mean to say that you shouldn’t work with a doctor or anything like that, but medicine is not enough. We need to work on ourselves as well.
I think a lot of us think there is more to meditation then there really is. Just a few minutes each day of silence each day does wonders. Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Turn off the tv, the computer, the stereo, everything (unless you are using a guided meditation program, such as HoloSync). Just sit. Don’t think of anything at all…focus on something in the room and just concentrate on that object to clear your mind.
Your stress levels will go down, I promise. You’ll feel calmer, better able to handle whatever is coming. Just give it a try.
If you are intersted in more information, here is a good introductory article.
Meditation: The Pause That Refreshes
Do you find yourself overworked, full of worry, or just plain stressed out? Then, it’s time to relax. Give your mind a break and your immune system a boost. Learn to meditate.
For many people, meditation is something quite mysterious. After all, meditation is a practice most often associated with ancient spiritual traditions. But, the fact the matter is, meditation is simply a way of relaxing your mind and your body which, in turn, helps to separate you from your everyday problems and worries. It is a process that can be learned and practiced by even the busiest person in today’s modern world.
There are many forms of meditation. However, experts often say that the various forms of meditation fall into two broad categories: concentrative meditation and mindfulness meditation.
In concentrative meditation, the person sits quietly and focuses attention on a physical object, a particular sound, an image, or on the most fundamental bodily process, breathing. Most people have heard of using a mantra to meditate. Here the person repeats a special word over and over. Repetition of the word provides the focus needed for meditation. No matter what the person uses, the purpose of the object of meditation is to give the mind an anchor to the here and now. As the mind becomes absorbed in its focus on the object of meditation, external distractions are reduced. The jumble of thoughts and anxiety so common to daily life disappear.
In mindfulness meditation, there is no specific object of meditation. Instead, the person sits quietly and simply witnesses or notices whatever happens to present itself mentally. It could be a thought, a mental image, a sound, or a bodily sensation. The goal of the person meditating is to observe whatever passes through the mind and let it go without reacting to it or elaborating on it. By practicing a kind of detached awareness of immediate experience, the person is encouraging the development of a calmer, clearer state of mind.
Learning to meditate is not a complex matter. However, as with any skill of value, learning to meditate does take some effort. Fortunately, there are many books and e-books on the market that can provide the beginner with simple “how to” instructions and helpful meditation exercises. Meditation also requires practice. But, the practice can be as little as ten minutes a day.
One key to successful meditation is consistency of effort. The person needs to find a time in the day to meditate regularly. The payoff for doing so may be enormous, both physically and psychologically. Modern research has shown that the regular use of meditation enhances immunity, lowers heart rate and blood pressure, reduces cholesterol, and speeds recovery. Psychologically, meditation seems to reduce anxiety and depression, while increasing creativity and feelings of happiness and joy. Given its power and simplicity, the practice of meditation should be included in any serious, holistic approach to health and wellness.
Douglas Hardwick, Ph.D., has extensive interests in human development and holistic health issues. He contributes to a holistic health information hub: http://www.holisticwebworks.com
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