The Healing Power, The Truth, and the changes it makes in you.
Perspective is a key component in both self-awareness and empathy for others. Your interpretation of some specific issue will define you and the person you become. Meditation is about changing perspective. As the internet site headspace says, it isn’t about becoming a different person, a new person, or even a better person. It’s about training awareness and getting a healthy perspective. You’re not trying to turn off your thoughts or feelings; you are learning to observe them without judgement. You may start to better understand them eventually. So, lets dive in and talk about it.
What is meditation?
Meditation has come to refer to what the American Heart Association calls “the family of mental practices that are designed to improve concentration, increase awareness on the moment and familiarize a person with the nature of their own mind.
Wikipedia defines Meditation as being “a practice where an individual uses a technique, such as focusing their mind on a particular object, thought, or activity, to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state.”
Christian meditation is a term for a form of prayer in which a structured attempt is made to get in touch with and deliberately reflect upon the revelation of God.
The best explanation of what meditation is stems from the definition of what a mind and body practice is. As headspace explains it, mind and body practices are a “large and diverse group of interventions, practices, and disciplines that are based in procedures or techniques administered or taught to others by a trained practitioner or teacher.” Examples of such things can be found in acupuncture, massage therapy, meditation, and yoga. The mind and body practice has a long history of use to increase calmness and physical relaxation. You can improve psychological balance, cope with illness, and enhancing overall health and well-being when you practice meditation because, mind and body practices focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior.”
Now that we understand what meditation is, let’s dive deeper into how, why, and what type we would like to do.
Types of meditation
There are two basic types.
Mindfulness is an open-minded form of meditation. It allows a person to be fully present in the moment. Aware of where you are and what you are doing. In this form, you wander through your thoughts as they drift through your mind. This allows you to observe how your thoughts and feelings tend to move in particular patterns. The outside world is not involved in this. The practitioner is able to become more aware of how they judge experiences and, with practice, an inner balance develops.
Focused meditation is based in concentration. It involves focusing on a single point. Many use a mantra, pay attention to their breath, or ponder an idea or a feeling. This practice builds on your ability to stay deliberate and centered.
why do we meditate?
Some research suggests that meditation may physically change the brain and body and could potentially help to improve many health problems and promote healthy behaviors. According to the National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health, meditation activates certain areas of the brain in response to pain and does not use the naturally occurring opiates to do so. Further studies have proven that the effectiveness of meditation in reducing high blood pressure, aiding in irritable bowel syndrome, and relieving anxiety, depression, and insomnia is mind blowing. (No pun intended). Overcome a negative, unhappy, stressful mindset with meditation. Increase your energy, vitality, peace, well being, and spiritual growth. Change your harmful perceptions and perspectives.
How Does one meditate?
Whether you are just starting out or have been doing this since birth and though there are many types, all forms of meditation have four elements in common. You need a quiet location, a specific and comfortable posture, a focus of attention, and an open attitude. Decide if you will be sitting, lying down, walking, or be in the lotus position. Go from there and build on the practice of meditating whenever you get the chance. How a person chooses to practice this form of contemplation is personal. To some it is an exercise in breathing, to others it is how they pray. Take the time to find your way with it.
Conclusion
Meditation is a tool. Practicing it helps to change who you are from the inside out. It helps us to form better character and cultivate strong and lasting relationships. When we use this tool, we become more reflective, considerate, and humble. Change your perspective, give it a chance.
references
- healthyway.com
- howtomeditate.org
- merriam-webster.com
- mindbodygreen.com
- mindful.org