Meditation is something that can be very beneficial for everyone. Including you! Therefore, make sure to at least consider it, especially in today’s hectic and busy world.
With the stress that people undergo each and every day, constantly weighing down upon them, there has never been a more important time for everyone to give meditation a try. It is guaranteed to help you relax and unwind just like this eBook.
Unfortunately, though, many people don’t really understand what meditation is or how to use it. In addition, many people even find themselves with some kind of prejudice against meditation – assuming that it’s only for people who want to ‘achieve enlightenment’ or that it’s a purely spiritual, or religious, practice.
However, it is so much more. This is a very quick guide to meditation that describes what it is and some of the different types of meditation available for you to try.
What is Meditation?
Although meditation can be used to achieve enlightenment and is used in some religious practices, it isn’t solely confined to those areas. Basically, meditation is the practice of focusing your mind and paying attention to one particular aspect of thinking. Think of it like weight lifting, but for your brain. It is the act of training your brain to clear out clutter and hone down to one aspect of thought or action, such as focusing on your breathing.
There are two main schools of meditation, and one is better known than the other. The first school of meditation is known as Mindfulness Meditation and it involves allowing your thoughts to flow one after another as you observe them go by. This is the lesser known and least practiced of the two.
The second school of meditation is known as Transcendental Meditation and it involves stopping your thoughts and focusing on one phrase, thought, or action. This is the wider known and more practiced of the two.
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Within each of these schools, there are several different ways of practicing that particular form of meditation. Many of these ways have different end goals. However, the main objective in any school of meditation involves the focusing of thoughts. During meditation, one must choose what they want to focus on and what they are going to think.
This is very important, because if there isn’t a clear direction for your thoughts then your mind will begin to run away with all kinds of thoughts, concerns, worries, et cetera. Here are the two main schools of meditation along with a few benefits of each of them.
Mindfulness Meditation
The objective of Mindfulness Meditation is to allow your thoughts to flow, but not to dwell on them. The goal is to detach yourself from your thoughts and to simply observe them. You want to be like a third party that is sitting back and watching the whole picture. The expression often used is that you’re going to watch your thoughts drift by like clouds.
This will help prevent your thoughts from controlling your emotions. It will also prevent your thoughts from causing anxiety. If you can learn to recognize your anxiety producing thoughts, then every time they arrive, you can simply observe them drift by. That way you will be able to be more relaxed and will be better able to handle the situation.
Mindfulness will also help you to better understand the contents of your own mind. It is as if you are taking an inventory of your thoughts so that you are consciously aware of them instead of letting them run rampant through the forest of your mind.
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Transcendental Meditation
This is the school of meditation with which most people are familiar. Transcendental Meditation involves the practice of shutting out your thoughts. It is the act of attempting to clear your mind of everything. This feat is usually easier to accomplish with the use of a mantra, which is a phrase that is repeated again and again.
Some people prefer not to use a mantra. In that case, they simply focus on their breathing and let that be the only thing that is in their mind. Either way, the goal is to completely clear the mind of all outside thoughts. The only thing that is inside the mind is the mantra, or whatever it is that is the focus of meditation.
With enough practice, Transcendental Meditation can be used to stop any and all stress. All you have to do is pause for a few seconds when you are feeling overwhelmed and clear your mind. Use the technique to quiet your brain, and then resume your task with a clear mind and complete relaxation.
Unlike Mindfulness Meditation, where your thoughts are inventoried and observed, this school of meditation involves the act of temporarily stopping the flow of thoughts by deleting them and focusing on an entirely new thought to promote relaxation.
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General Benefits of Meditation
Meditation is extremely beneficial to your health. It is like yoga and Pilates for the brain. Meditation teaches you how to focus on the things that make you happy and how to shut out the things that clutter your mind. It is an excellent form of relaxation and stress relief. Be sure to check out the supplemental content on my website for some great resources that you can use to help you clear your mind and life healthy.
Meditation will also help improve your patients, focus, and attention span. In addition, you will find that you are generally more relaxed and easy going. You will be better able to cope with stress and will more easily react to change, surprise, and unforeseen circumstances. I have some great eBooks available that will help you with this as well! The best part is that meditation is completely free. All you need is the desire to try it out for ten minutes at a time. What are you waiting for? Try meditation today!
For more great information take a look at the supplemental content on this website and check out these great blog posts. In addition, feel free to connect with me on social media.
