It Takes Just Five Minutes
Today for so many of us, we now live in a world that’s so fast paced, it’s often difficult to find time to almost think, let alone make time for ourselves! Technology has been so integrated with our lives, the way we communicate often dictating our schedules, and with every beep, every ping, every prompt, it’s constantly vying for all our attention. I’m sure that some of you also experience this in your day-to-day life as well.
Last week, I had so many projects stacking up, that I found myself feeling overly anxious. My heart was pounding in my chest, my breathing rate increasing by the minute. I could feel my stress levels rising. Luckily, I know the signs and was able to stop for a moment and hit the re-set button! We all have a tendency to get caught up in this frantic flow and forget that we need to slow down. For me, when I feel this happening, I now know that I must stop and ask myself: “John, when did you check-in with your “self” last?” So last week, as I felt the stress levels rising, I realized that I hadn’t meditated in a few days and my outside world was beginning to reflect that. So, I stopped, pulled myself away from my desk and said to myself: “Just take five minutes.”
If this sounds familiar to you, then maybe you should practice the “Just take five minutes rule.” It really does give you the chance to stop, slow down, and to simply meditate for a few minutes, whether you’re at home, work or wherever. When I do this, my breath, heart rate, and anxiety all begin to lower. So last week, once I’d had my five-minute meditation I was able to back to work feeling refreshed and energized. Of course, the practice of meditation has many health benefits, which I call the extra benefit. For instance, the sense of relaxation and calmness that results from meditating can enhance the body’s immune system, can reduce blood pressure, and be an invaluable tool for healing. It can also increase your physical energy as well as your overall wellbeing.
For some people, meditation brings up images of monks chanting with incense smoke floating in the air. Others believe that it’s a huge commitment to practice and devote the time to meditate. It’s actually what you want it to be. Meditation is merely a state of being, in which the active mind slows down. Meditation can bring us to a place where we aim to silence the mental chatter. By doing so, we become increasingly aware of the subtle shifting energies within us. If you’d like to slow down, develop and enhance your own intuitive ability, or even to just be present in the here and now, then it’s essential that you learn to enter and feel comfortable with the silence within.
Meditation is a vital part of your development process to improve your body, mind, and soul. It’s fine to read about meditation, but to put it simply … you just have to do it! It’s possible to enter into a state of meditation when you consciously focus your mind on a single point or to simply watch your breath come in and go out. Some people find that using a mandala (those beautiful images of symbols that draw you in) helpful, while others visualize images such as: a flower, a beautiful landscape scene or their spirit guides.
Whichever method you choose, with steady practice and commitment, you’ll steadily train your mind to become calm and still. This will foster a sense of wellbeing that can have tangible benefits in all areas of your life. If you believe you can’t meditate, it’s quite likely that you’ve already done it without even realizing. For example, when artists are so absorbed in their work, they can totally lose themselves in their own creativity. You will often hear someone say, “I just zoned out.” Have you ever had that sensation of time just slipping by without even realizing it? What’s really happening is that you most likely crossed over into a state of meditation.
John’s Lesson
Here’s a simple practice that you can do every day. Close your eyes and just focus on your breath. Take your time. With each breath in, you’ll start to feel more and more relaxed, and with each exhalation, you’lll be letting go of all the stress and tension held in your body. Try this for five minutes every day just practicing on focusing on the regular rhythm of your breathing. Over time, you’ll naturally become increasingly relaxed with each breath. Just let it happen. Let it all go and relax. If your mind starts to wander, just focus back on your breath. If thoughts come in, acknowledge them, and just watch them leave again. Notice how it feels to be completely relaxed. Continue to focus on your breath while you let all that mind chatter slow down so it eventually gets silenced and evaporates from your consciousness.
Even when a hectic lifestyle can often pull you away from doing your meditation, please keep at it, at least for 7 days. Hopefully, once you’ve settled into a routine, you’ll continue meditating for the rest of your life and wonder why you waited for so long. Start with 5 minutes each adn every day as I have recommended. Soon, you will learn to increase the length of your meditation and ultimately, you will look forward to that special time with yourself and your soul.
Live a Soul-Filled life!
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