People often say they want to meditate in order to relax because they're too tense, stressed, or worried and see meditation as a way to create more relaxation in their life.
However, many activities can help you to relax such as:
- owning and petting a cat or dog
- going to a spa
- having a massage
- watching a sunset
- reading a book
- going for a walk
These may help you to relax but what's the difference between meditation and relaxation?
Using fMRI's scientists have been able to see the positive physiological changes in the frontal lobe of the brain that meditation creates. So in addition to creating a relaxation response, meditation changes the brain in ways not previously thought possible, further explaining the reasons why people not only feel good after meditating, but why there is heightened intuition, improved memory, and a "younger" brain.
You can turn your relaxation activities into a meditation experience by the use of single pointed focus.
Next time you sit down with your pet or go for a walk, be mindful about what you are doing.
Focus only on that activity for fifteen minutes. For example, when walking, be aware of what is going on around you, such as vehicles passing by, birds singing, leaves rustling, but not distracted by them.
Focus on each footstep, what the ground feels like, how slow and steady your breath is.
Make each moment a meditation.
If you have any suggestions for meditation articles please write to me from the website (there's a place at the end of each posting to do this) and I'll be happy to write on this subject.
New meditation information is added to the site every week with links to my additional articles on how to meditate, reduce stress, and gain inner peace.
I fell in love with your site when i saw it for the first time. Mainly becuse of the pesentation. A very well organized site. At the same time i am into yoga, reiki and meditation. By profession i am a clinical psychologist.
ReplyDeleteIn a book that I have co-written(and our agent is trying to sell) we use research from many fields including psychology to demonstrate how individuals can transform their thoughts and actions. Using the latest research we show what is happening in the brain and help people change the way they think and act.
ReplyDeleteOur unique methods are tested in the real world through our seminars, yoga and meditation classes, nurses from a variety of specialties, and patients and families in crisis.
Psychology is a wonderful profession and helps people today in ways never dreamed about in the past.
That was really interesting Margaret. Making each moment a mediation - I like that a lot.
ReplyDeleteThe only way to be truly happy is to remain securely in the present moment. Not lingering in the past nor worrying about the future. Even when life throws things at you that you can't duck from, the knowledge of who you really are is what helps you to get beyond it in a calm and steady manner.
ReplyDeleteBy making each moment a meditation, you train the mind to focus and in doing so enable yourself to know who you are fully and what you really want from life.
Then you are able to finally achieve what you desire.