Do you meditate? Have you ever tried it?
I’ve found meditation to be one of the most profound practices in existence, to make one feel centered, calm, and relaxed. Its effects don’t just last while you’re meditating, either. They continue on through your day and night, because your mind, body, and soul become more grounded from meditation. You naturally become more loving, kind, and patient.
This is because meditation allows you to block outside intrusions and distractions from staying in your thoughts. It connects you to who you really are deep inside (your Soul). And that helps create amazing opportunities for growth, love, and success.
You might be wondering, though: how do I meditate?
Well, there are lots of ways to meditate. My favorite way is guided meditation. This is when someone talks you through your practice. I like two different kinds. One kind is where I listen to someone, like Deepak Chopra, give a mini-inspirational talk, which is followed by music, during which time I can let go of all of my thoughts. During the talk, my mind, body, and soul get set up to focus on the energy of the topic of discussion, so during the quiet music time, I become aligned with my Higher Power and what I want to accomplish after I meditate.
The second kind of meditation that I like, is listening to someone guide me through feelings in my body. Yoga Nidra meditation is particularly relaxing, and somewhat similar to progressive relaxation, except for the fact that you don’t tighten up your muscles. You simply put your awareness on different parts of your body, and essentially scan your body, filling it with light and love. You may feel sleepy or lighter after this kind of meditation.
There are plenty of other kinds of meditation, though, and different types appeal to different people. Some people do yoga to meditate. Others run, play an instrument, walk in nature, or cook. All that matters in meditation is that you get into a FLOW where you’re not focusing on your problems, the future, or the past. You’re focused on the present moment and you’re simply aware of what’s going on. You’re taking everything in for what it is.
Deepak Chopra gives a wonderful metaphor for the purpose of meditation…which is, to connect to the part within you that is observing what’s going on. Deepak says to think about two birds sitting on a tree branch. One is chirping and eating while the other one just watches what’s happening. This is equivalent to your brain and your soul. Your brain has lots of thoughts and activity going on inside of it. But your Soul is only watching, in plain observation. When we start seeing through the eyes of the observing bird (our Soul), troubles start to drift away. Things become much simpler and we worry less.
This has a snowball effect. Once we worry less, we become less frantic about how we feel and what we need to do. Our Soul speaks to us and guides us, and the flow we feel in meditation starts entering our everyday lives. We find more ease and peace.
Who doesn’t want more of those?
So now, let me know in the comments if you meditate or not. If so, what kind of meditation do you do, and how does it benefit you? If not, what’s holding you back, and what would you like to accomplish?
Remember, also, that meditation is a PRACTICE. Which means that we won’t get it perfect every time (ex: I often drift back to my thoughts when I “shouldn’t” be thinking). Although, as Deepak Chopra also says, whatever happens in your meditation is supposed to happen. You can’t do it wrong. You’ll reap the benefits no matter what.
Good luck, and namaste (which essentially means, “the Soul in me honors the Soul in you. We are one/we’re made of the same ‘stuff’”)!
All my love and hugs,
Steph
Ps. Here is a fantastic way to start meditating. It’s the 1st day’s meditation from a 21 Day Meditation Experience with Oprah and Deepak, called “Getting Unstuck: Creating a Limitless Life.” I hope you enjoy it and reap its benefits:
