The Aummmmmm of Meditation For Beginners….
There is such an infinite variety of meditations, that a person could get lost. You can meditate on a candle, on a mantra, on your breath, a photo, your third eye or your naval, or any combination thereof. You can listen to a prerecorded guided visualization meditation, or meditate while walking, or communing with nature. The techniques can be simple or complex, yet they are all designed to quiet your mind, elevate your consciousness, and connect you with your internal guidance system, and they offer additional benefits as well. What is important to note, is that meditation in general, and the discipline of making it an everyday practice, has been proven over and over to have significant physical, emotional, spiritual and mental benefits, and when practiced correctly, it can provide powerful results. These benefits can have a profound impact on your overall well-being.
Physical Benefits of Meditation– Often, we get “centered” in meditation by focusing on a specific area of the body for a set amount of time. Studies have shown that when the mind is solely focused on just one part of the body, blood flow increases to that region of the body, and cells receive more oxygen and an abundance of nutrients. Healthier cells mean a strengthened immune system, and a healthier immune system means an overall healthier you. This focus on the body also allows the muscles to relax, which can lead to things such as better or more restful sleep and feeling more energetic. As you become more aware of, and appreciative of your body, you become more in sync with it and treat it more conscientiously. This mind/body connection improves your physical health.
Spiritual & Emotional Benefits– Meditation is a way of getting still and connecting with your inner self and the Divine. More often than not, you may have the answers to all of your questions but the daily hustle of your busy lives frequently drowns that information out. When you are able to get quiet enough to hear what your higher self is trying to tell you, things can become clear very quickly.
Meditation will also allow you to see things from a different perspective, which can bring about a renewed confidence or calm; a feeling of “I can do this” and that whatever you are experiencing is manageable. As your awareness is heightened, you begin to see things from your “Divine” Self, which always has your highest and greatest good as a top priority. You may still have questions but the answers will start to come.
Mental Benefits of Meditation– Ever feel like you’re just not performing at your peak level? A good meditation session will probably cure that. Meditating has been shown to increase focus, concentration and clarity and additionally, unleash deep seated creativity. With meditation, you will probably be able to resume tasks with a renewed sense of vigor that had you feeling completely burned out, and creative projects that had you feeling stuck will suddenly begin to create themselves. Since meditation reduces anxiety and stress and increases peace of mind, you’ll be able to perform in a higher and more productive state than you would without taking the time to meditate. In fact, one of the best things you can do when you are feeling “stuck” with any kind of work project, is to let it go and take a few minutes to meditate. The simple act of walking away from the work and connecting with you can make the difference between a project that feels like forced action and one where the action is simply inspired.
The next time you are feeling overburdened, whether it’s physical, emotional or mental, make a conscious effort to stop what you are doing and find a quiet place where you can just be. Just ten minutes or so of mediation can make a big difference in your next twenty-four hours. Any way you do that math, that’s a great return on investment!