LEARN HOW TO MEDITATE
Has anyone ever said to you that if you practice meditation, it will make your life better somehow by "changing" it? If you said yes, you're not alone. There was a time when I "thought' the same exact thing. Turns out. I was wrong! Meditation did not "change" my life, I "changed" aspects of my life, hence, creating a much better "meditation" experience. Meditating doesn't have to be difficult or incredibly time-consuming, but it must be done properly. Meditation will not take away all your life's problems or make a brand new car suddenly appear in your driveway. What meditation will do, is assist and guide you to the resources you require to help you "change' both the internal and external, qualities, you so desire. Hey, I'm not saying that two hour meditation you did trying to clear your head of all thoughts and then beat yourself up because you couldn't do it, as you attempted to reach Nirvana was the wrong way to practice it. Oh wait . . . "YES I AM!" Meditation can be a beautiful, powerful, enlightening, experience, once you learn the proper techniques required to manifest great things towards you.
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I started practicing how to meditate after my first life-changing surgery. It was suggested to me as a way to expedite the healing process by my Reiki Master and teacher. Now, looking back on the beginning of that journey, I am thankful and grateful it lead me down a path of fine-tuning my meditation skills to where they are now. If you are, or were, like me, you probably thought that by practicing "meditation," it would significantly "change" your life for the better and that all your stress, anxiety, and problems, would be banished to a far off realm, never to return again. While my "intentions" were noble and set with love and gratitude, I learned overtime that my attempt at meditation was speckled with flaws and misguided information. I am. however, genuinely happy to tell you that through research, determination, and practice, I now understand and have the necessary skills to "mediate" properly. This is why I am ecstatic to be able to share with you some simple, easy to understand, instructions, that will give you the proper tools so you can have the most, productive, relaxing, meditation session, you've ever had. Are you ready? Alright then, let's go!
The first item up for discussion is the proper way to sit for your meditation. Although yoga enthusiast's will recommend you sit in the lotus or Padmasana position, I am telling you right now, it is not necessary to sit like this for meditation. Do you seriously believe that every human on earth can get down on the ground and sit with their legs crossed like that? If that were the only way you could meditate, then that would eliminate millions of good souls from ever being able to participate in this spiritual modality. For me, well, almost my entire spine had to be mechanically replaced with a variety of metal apparatuses. My neck alone, had to be put back together with metal plates, a rod, cages, and forty-two screws, just to keep it in place, so if you think I can get my sorry butt down on the ground and comfortably cross my legs without snapping in half, you're sadly mistaken. It ain't happening!
It doesn't matter if you can sit in the lotus position, meditation can be done in which ever way your body position is most comfortable. You can sit in a chair, lie down, float in the water, hell, you can even sit in your car and meditate. But, if you're going to do that, please don't drive and close your eyes. That will end very badly for you and possibly someone or something else. My point is, meditate in whichever position you enjoy. However, one thing I do recommend is, if possible, place your body in a position where your spine is straight to allow energy to flow through it more easily.
Is there a correct time of day to meditate? It has been proven that the optimal time to meditate is the first thing in the morning, but that's not mandatory, it's only a suggestion. The reason meditation practitioners suggest the morning, is because as humans, we tend to think of all the stresses in our lives immediately after waking up. I agree one hundred percent with this. You know you do it, I know that I do it too, but to a much lesser degree now that I have a daily routine of practicing my meditations. Think about it. When you wake up in the morning, are your first thoughts about work, getting the kids ready for school, wondering how you are going to get them to whatever lesson or social activity on time, who's going to cook dinner, do I even have anything to make for dinner, worrying about a sick friend or love one? The amount of "negative or impactful thoughts," is infinite, and we all have them, every day. Did you know that seventy percent of our daily thoughts are stress related to some degree or about an event or issue that hasn't happened, or will never happen. Imagine what inner and outer changes would take place within you if you placed all your energy on changing that seventy percent to "positive or productive" thoughts. Your life would gradually morph into a reality that you created. I meditate in the morning, a short realignment meditation in the afternoon, and then right before I go to bed. Remember, "YOU ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS!" Be kind and gentle to yourselves.
It doesn't matter if you can sit in the lotus position, meditation can be done in which ever way your body position is most comfortable. You can sit in a chair, lie down, float in the water, hell, you can even sit in your car and meditate. But, if you're going to do that, please don't drive and close your eyes. That will end very badly for you and possibly someone or something else. My point is, meditate in whichever position you enjoy. However, one thing I do recommend is, if possible, place your body in a position where your spine is straight to allow energy to flow through it more easily.
Is there a correct time of day to meditate? It has been proven that the optimal time to meditate is the first thing in the morning, but that's not mandatory, it's only a suggestion. The reason meditation practitioners suggest the morning, is because as humans, we tend to think of all the stresses in our lives immediately after waking up. I agree one hundred percent with this. You know you do it, I know that I do it too, but to a much lesser degree now that I have a daily routine of practicing my meditations. Think about it. When you wake up in the morning, are your first thoughts about work, getting the kids ready for school, wondering how you are going to get them to whatever lesson or social activity on time, who's going to cook dinner, do I even have anything to make for dinner, worrying about a sick friend or love one? The amount of "negative or impactful thoughts," is infinite, and we all have them, every day. Did you know that seventy percent of our daily thoughts are stress related to some degree or about an event or issue that hasn't happened, or will never happen. Imagine what inner and outer changes would take place within you if you placed all your energy on changing that seventy percent to "positive or productive" thoughts. Your life would gradually morph into a reality that you created. I meditate in the morning, a short realignment meditation in the afternoon, and then right before I go to bed. Remember, "YOU ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS!" Be kind and gentle to yourselves.
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LET'S GET MEDITATING
tBefore we even begin, I want to enlighten you with some useful knowledge in regards to meditating. If you ever hear someone say, "now everyone clear your mind, and try not to think about anything," get up and leave. They are already setting you up for failure. It is "IMPOSSIBLE" not to think about anything and clear your mind of any thoughts! trust me, I've tried. I tried so hard I gave myself a splitting headache, a stiff neck, and a freaking bloody nose. Meditation is about "focusing and becoming aware." You should also have a goal, a specific journey you want to strive for, when you are meditating. That goal can be anything, there is no goal to small or to big. You are the "creator," create what you want!
Let me ask you a question; "when you were a child, did your parents or teachers ever tell you to concentrate?" I'm sure somewhere in your past, this request was asked of you, but has anyone ever explained to you "how to concentrate?" If I said to you "right now I want you to teach me how to concentrate," what instructions would you give me? How can anyone, child or adult, concentrate on something if they don't understand the concept of actually knowing how to perform such a task? I'll take "how to concentrate for five hundred Alex." (Jeopardy fans will get that pun) Concentration is all about awareness. It's about dedicating one hundred percent of your attention, your energy, your focus, on a person, event, project, or something else that is personal to you. Learning how to concentrate takes a great deal of practice, but the more you become "aware," the easier it becomes. The next time you're having a conversation with someone, practice concentration by giving that person your complete, undivided, attention. If you feel your thoughts drifting askew, gently bring your attention back to listening and paying attention to what they are saying. When meditating, "concentration or awareness is key."
Parents, remember this; the next time you tell your child to concentrate, you best be able to teach them how first, or you're just asking them to do something they don't know how to do.
Let me ask you a question; "when you were a child, did your parents or teachers ever tell you to concentrate?" I'm sure somewhere in your past, this request was asked of you, but has anyone ever explained to you "how to concentrate?" If I said to you "right now I want you to teach me how to concentrate," what instructions would you give me? How can anyone, child or adult, concentrate on something if they don't understand the concept of actually knowing how to perform such a task? I'll take "how to concentrate for five hundred Alex." (Jeopardy fans will get that pun) Concentration is all about awareness. It's about dedicating one hundred percent of your attention, your energy, your focus, on a person, event, project, or something else that is personal to you. Learning how to concentrate takes a great deal of practice, but the more you become "aware," the easier it becomes. The next time you're having a conversation with someone, practice concentration by giving that person your complete, undivided, attention. If you feel your thoughts drifting askew, gently bring your attention back to listening and paying attention to what they are saying. When meditating, "concentration or awareness is key."
Parents, remember this; the next time you tell your child to concentrate, you best be able to teach them how first, or you're just asking them to do something they don't know how to do.
BREATHING
Breathing, we do it every day, all day. If we didn't we would all be dead. But, how many times a day do you actually think about your breathing? Most likely, very few times, if any at all. We take breathing for granted because it has become a natural thing for us to do since the day we were born. Breathing is a matter of survival. Our breathing also changes because of certain activities we perform or because of emotional or physical distress. For example; When you're angry, your heart races, your blood pressure goes up and your breathing becomes quick and shallow. Conversely, when you are resting peacefully, your breathing is relaxed and easy. When "meditating," breathwork is critically important for achieving maximum results. In time, you will learn how to control your breathing by becoming "aware," of the way you are breathing.
One of the things you don't want to do is focus on your breathing to the point where you start hyperventilating or freaking yourself out. This might happen in the beginning, but all you need to do is stop and refocus your attention on just becoming "aware" that you are breathing. Breathwork has many valuable health benefits and will improve your overall health and well-being. It is vital that our bodies are properly oxygenated to not only perform better, but also to help us create an energy forcefield around our whole body that extends out to the infinite universe. (mind blown, right?) When breathing is done correctly, it stimulates the flow of energy from the bottom to the top of your spine, right to the crown of your head. One of your first meditation practices should be focused on igniting that electrical energy by directing your oxygen to the base of your spine and pushing it up like you were sipping it through a straw.
There has been absolutely incredible, scientific, studies done on this subject by Dr. Joe Dispenza. He calls it; "Heart and Brain Coherence," and his results have been truly miraculous. He has been able to prove that through using breathwork, we, as humans, can create our own magnetic field that surrounds our bodies. What we can accomplish using his formula is endless happiness, joy, great health and abundance. Who doesn't want that, am I right? He also goes into and talks about the "Quantum physics" part of his formula, which I understand, but could never correctly explain it to you, if I tried. So, what I recommend is this; everyone who reads this, please do yourselves a ginormous favor and research all the work and meditations by Dr. Joe Dispenza. You will not be disappointed.
One of the things you don't want to do is focus on your breathing to the point where you start hyperventilating or freaking yourself out. This might happen in the beginning, but all you need to do is stop and refocus your attention on just becoming "aware" that you are breathing. Breathwork has many valuable health benefits and will improve your overall health and well-being. It is vital that our bodies are properly oxygenated to not only perform better, but also to help us create an energy forcefield around our whole body that extends out to the infinite universe. (mind blown, right?) When breathing is done correctly, it stimulates the flow of energy from the bottom to the top of your spine, right to the crown of your head. One of your first meditation practices should be focused on igniting that electrical energy by directing your oxygen to the base of your spine and pushing it up like you were sipping it through a straw.
There has been absolutely incredible, scientific, studies done on this subject by Dr. Joe Dispenza. He calls it; "Heart and Brain Coherence," and his results have been truly miraculous. He has been able to prove that through using breathwork, we, as humans, can create our own magnetic field that surrounds our bodies. What we can accomplish using his formula is endless happiness, joy, great health and abundance. Who doesn't want that, am I right? He also goes into and talks about the "Quantum physics" part of his formula, which I understand, but could never correctly explain it to you, if I tried. So, what I recommend is this; everyone who reads this, please do yourselves a ginormous favor and research all the work and meditations by Dr. Joe Dispenza. You will not be disappointed.