This is my first installment on Meditation as a method to help relax, help take
control of personal behavior, increase sleep time, and reduce worry.
‘Meditation’ is full of speculation. What is the specific meaning? Or is it one of
those elite activities that has no validity. We tend to decide on our own meaning
for concepts and ideas we have not researched for ourselves. Some may relate
meditation to ancient Hindu and Buddhist texts. They would be correct, but not
complete in knowledge. However, meditation has lasted for centuries beyond its
origins. Through the last century into this one, meditation has undergone
rigorous research studies. The results: Meditation can improve your quality of
life.
Meditation is a function of the mind. What we think and how we act comes from
our mind. In fact, our mind is the control center of our words and actions.
Interesting! I do not know about you, but my mind does not always do me any
favors. How about the stress, anxiety, depression felt throughout the day? The
results are translated in our behaviors to these feelings. We do not sleep well,
worry over the little things, and obsess over things we cannot change. Meditation
allows us to back away from this approach, take a breath, and let go of negative
approaches in our thoughts and behaviors. Meditation gives us the possibility to
improve our general state of mind, reach greater calm, control, and better-quality
sleep. Meditation has evidenced-based research which proves increased
relaxation, stress reduction, and sleep.
Other research has verified meditation helps with heightened awareness, reduces
blood pressure, and affords internal control from reaction to daily negative
stimulus. Most of all, meditation helps us focus on the “now” moment. We turn
our focus to today.
Principles of meditation are patience, acceptance, nonjudgmental awareness,
compassion, forgiveness, trust, nonattachment, and non-striving. Meditation is a
positive way to take time for yourself. Self-care is encouraged and has been for a
long time. There is no cost to meditation. Just your time.
Resources for increasing self-knowledge:
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn;
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle;
Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris;
PsychAlive. YouTube. January 03, 2013. Accessed February 27, 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmEo6RI4Wvs.