By: Amy Chris Keiper also known as the writer, LC Harrison
Meditation is a way to transmute the mind, that it promotes concentration, emotional balance and clarity. Meditation is thought to support feelings of happiness, tranquility, and serenity. There are many types of meditation, including Progressive Relaxation, Mindfulness, Breath Awareness, Zen, and Transcendental. Often, any type of meditation is approached by a method that applies a stimuli for the participant to focus on and respond to, which includes music, imagery, or even journaling as ways to assist in meditation. The stimuli method of meditation is referred to as guided meditation.The Purpose of utilizing meditation can be as broad as the needs of any participant, but meditation is a useful tool in stress reduction, pain control, self awareness, concentration development, coping strategies, and it is a tool with many additional health benefits. Many have found meditation to support the nervous system by lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving cortisol levels, and breath support. Meditation brings these benefits by helping the participant to focus and redirect their thoughts, allowing them to be more self-aware and aware of their surroundings simultaneously, which usually helps reduce anxiety and promotes a more heart-centered approach to adapting.
Meditation seems impossibly difficult for most, distractions like restlessness and nagging thoughts get in the way of focus and sitting still for a moment. This is where the guided meditation approach is most helpful in getting started meditating to discover all the healing benefits. To practice meditation, the first thing you do is to choose one intention, and then choose some relaxing music or a favorite song, or any image that you find draws you in, or grab a journal to doodle in or write anything that comes to mind. The next step is to relax while you listen, or gaze, or write or draw, pay attention to your focus and to your muscles, be sure to let the tense feelings go and stay fluid and at ease. The third step to take is to pay attention to your senses. Consider what are you feeling inside, if you are holding something how does that feel? How do your surroundings feel to you, or do you hear anything, or do you see anything? Be sure to concentrate on your breathing, and try to take deep full breaths. Then consider how all this feels to you, and focus on the feelings that you have. Release anything that feels negative or bad to you, and try to focus on good and positive feelings. Be sure to stay aware of your body and breath the whole time you are meditating, return to feeling your deep breaths and keeping your muscles untensed. Meditating can be that simple.
The idea that everything is within, and you can mold your thoughts to support you in many healing ways is what meditation is all about. Meditation is a great tool that enables adaptability in many different ways, all beneficial. Through discovering the center of the self and in becoming more self aware you may be able to transform yourself into feeling healthier, happier and more fulfilled.
