As we move further into the 21st Century, we are seeing a significant rise in the practice of meditation – particularly forms of mindfulness – not just in the United States, but in cultures around the world. For the last hundred years, there has been a slow, steady increase in the number of people committing time to developing better control over their consciousness. If you haven’t looked into this, maybe today is your lucky day. Meditation has enormous physical and psychological health benefits and no down side, other than the fact that you do have to put in your time – the meditation will not do itself.
So, I’m saying meditation is a really big deal. Why?
First, it is probably the healthiest and most effective long term coping strategy for stress, and we have more than enough of that in today’s world. Second – and this, I believe, is critical – it provides the practitioner with the ability to look at self, other and world in a much more objective way. It allows understanding outside of our emotional reactions. So instead of falling into the hysteria that recently has been roiling our culture, why not find a way to walk through, eyes open, alert, healthy and ready for what life has in store of us?
Mindfulness meditation is quite simple, conceptually, although it is extraordinarily difficult to master. It involves placing your awareness completely into the present – focusing on the breath is often the method. You stop planning, anticipating, judging, critiquing, remembering, fantasizing. And when you notice any of those forms of cognitive noisiness returning, you gently turn your mind away from it and return to your mindfulness practice.
After a half century of scientific research studying meditation, a number of important benefits have been found. I list some of them here:
1. Brings increased relaxation, well-being, clarity and concentration.
2. Strengthens immune system health and physiological responses to stress.
3. Improves social relationships.
4. Reduces depression and anxiety.
5. Increases openness to experience.
6. Leads to a clearer, calmer, more flexible psychological attitude.
7. Decreases emotional overreaction.
Meditation alone is great but it can be even more powerful when done in a group. If you are interested in becoming part of a mindfulness group, please let me know. I’m in the process of putting one together.
Questions?
Please share if helpful!!!
