Why meditation?
We’ve all heard of meditation. It’s almost a buzz word nowadays. What is it, and why is it becoming so popular?
Meditation has been around for many, many years. It is part of many religious practices, and even mentioned as far back as the Old Testament in the Bible – even further back in some Eastern practices. It’s used today in a lot of different ways. You might have experienced it during a yoga class, viewed it on YouTube, or seen it as a service in a spa.
One of the best explanations I’ve seen of what meditation actually is comes from Headspace.com – “Meditation isn’t about becoming a different person, a new person, or even a better person. It’s about training in awareness and getting a healthy sense of perspective. You’re not trying to turn off your thoughts or feelings. You’re learning to observe them without judgment. And eventually, you may start to better understand them as well.”
What are some of the benefits of meditation?
Even though it’s not about becoming someone different or better, you may find yourself feeling better once you have an established mediation practice. There are so many benefits of meditation. We will touch on just five of them in this blog. You may find these all resonate with you, or you may find totally different results.
Your conscious mind gets a break 
Do you ever feel like you have so many thoughts going through your mind that it seems your head just might explode? Rest assured that you are not alone. Our mind actually is doing way more than that, and sometimes we just need to give it a partial break now and then.
Some people try to turn off their brain in other ways. Some take a nap (but that doesn’t really slow down the racing), some use other methods to numb the brain. These are not the best choices.
If you really want to give your conscious mind a break, find a quiet place, get comfortable (you don’t have to be in any fancy yoga pose unless you want to), find something on which to focus your attention, and let everything else just pass through.
Many people find it helpful to focus on the flame of a candle or a special object while they meditate.
Your focus increases over time
When you think of meditation, do you imagine someone sitting alone in a quiet room with subdued lighting? Some people find this is the easiest way to meditate, with no distractions. It’s like meditation with training wheels. But you could actually be meditate almost anywhere once you get the hang of it.
As you practice more, you will find that it is easier to let your mind focus on one single object and let the rest of your thoughts pass on by. Try meditating outdoors in nature, focus on a tree, a plant, or even a blade of grass. Experience the peace that goes with it.
Problem solving skills may improve
Are you struggling to solve an issue in your life? Find that sweet space you use for your best meditation, get comfortable, Set your intention to receive a solution to the problem you are trying to solve, and then sit in stillness for a bit. You may get an instant answer, or you may not get anything at all until you start to work on it again.
Sometimes it is helpful to have a pencil and a blank sheet of paper available. After you have been still for a few minutes grab the paper and pencil and let your brain dump whatever comes to you. Many people find the answers they are seeking this way.
Stress becomes more manageable
Too much stress is hard on our body, mind, and spirit. When we are overly stressed our cortisol levels can go through the roof. This triggers other things in our body including increased inflammation. Restful sleep can be difficult. Depression, anxiety, fatigue, brain fog, and general feelings of unwellness are just a few of the ways stress can affect people.
By focusing your attention and removing the jumble of constant chatter in your brain, meditation can help relieve your stress.
Anyone can meditate 
Meditation isn’t just for a yogi in India sitting in lotus position under a tree. Anyone can use meditation to bring more peace into their life. Give it a try and let us know what you think.
Find your purpose – find your joy!
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Did you find a few more ideas of your own? If so, I’d love to hear about them in the comments, and as always please reach out with your thoughts.
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