At one point in time in my life Meditation was one of those things that was always elusive to me. I was a dabbler. Then when I was pregnant with my third daughter it became a staple in my life. After she was born I rooted in daily meditation even more. Then I became more structured with my meditation practices and even started practicing twice a day. Now my you get daughter is 5 and I can say that daily meditation has save my life and in times of stress and anxiety became even more important. I have tried many different times of meditation and its practices and on the solstice will release a meditation e-book.
Meditation has a long history of use for increasing calmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, coping with illness, and enhancing overall health and well-being.
There are many types of meditation, but most have four elements in common: a quiet location with as few distractions as possible; a specific, comfortable posture (sitting, lying down, walking, or in other positions); a focus of attention (a specially chosen word or set of words, an object, or the sensations of the breath); and an open attitude (letting distractions come and go naturally without judging them).
Many studies have investigated meditation for different conditions, and there’s evidence that it may reduce blood pressure as well as symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and flare-ups in people who have had ulcerative colitis. It may ease symptoms of anxiety and depression, and may help people with insomnia. I know it helps me.
Most first-time meditators find it strange to sit in silence, to sit with their innermost thoughts and feelings, to sit and do nothing — the very things that, funnily enough, the mind tends to resist. To a beginner, meditation might initially feel a little alien, perhaps even daunting, but that’s okay. People have been meditating for eons, and many have doubtless experienced the same reticence, trepidation, or wonder that first-time meditators often feel.
Maybe you want to start meditating because you want to be less reactive, feel less stressed, or be more focused. Maybe meditating is part of a wider personal development plan of some kind. Or maybe you’re looking to improve your relationships with those around you. Whatever the reason, training the mind through meditation is training in awareness, and training in awareness offers the potential to fundamentally transform your perspective on life.
Our entire existence is experienced through our minds, and our perspective on life can dramatically alter once we begin meditating. Being inspired to start meditating is very different from actually doing it, however, have only felt the benefits of meditation by beginning and maintaining a regular practice. In order to understand meditation, simply do meditation. In order to calm your mind, you need to begin by simply sitting, take a few deep breaths…… and check out my Heart Centered Meditation ebook!
Love, Michelle
Michelle Berry 