If you meditate regularly, even when you don’t feel like it, you will make great gains, for it will allow you to see how your thoughts impose limits on you. Your resistances to meditation are your mental prisons in miniature.
ram dass
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalms 19:14 NIV
“Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.”
Psalms 4:4 NIV
“Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.”
Psalms 119:27 NIV
Interesting Article on the Downsides of Deep Meditation: When Buddhism Goes Bad
10 Best Reasons to Meditate (new)
- Reduces stress and anxiety: Regular meditation practice has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels.
- Improves focus and concentration: Meditation helps to train your mind to focus and concentrate on the present moment.
- Enhances emotional well-being: Meditation has been linked to improved emotional regulation, decreased symptoms of depression, and increased feelings of well-being.
- Boosts immune system: Research has shown that regular meditation practice can improve immune system function, helping to fight off illness and disease.
- Increases self-awareness: Through meditation, you can gain a better understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
- Improves sleep: Meditation can help you relax and fall asleep more easily, leading to improved quality of sleep.
- Enhances creativity: Regular meditation practice can help to stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Lowers blood pressure: Studies have found that meditation can help to lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.
- Improves relationships: Through increased self-awareness and emotional regulation, meditation can help to improve relationships with others.
- Increases feelings of happiness: Regular meditation practice has been linked to increased feelings of happiness and overall life satisfaction.
There are many approaches to meditation but it ultimately comes down to sitting down where you won't be disturbed, shutting your eyes and observing thoughts bubble up into your conscience. Over time, you will become familiar with the patterns of your mind and will improve your ability to cultivate presence without allowing idle thoughts to affect your mood.
Meditation is the act of not doing anything and simply existing in a state of being.
Meditation is like a metaphor for life… you start with an intention or plan, you start working towards it…. then you get distracted… you start thinking of other things… you lose sight of your plan… you notice that you’re lost in thought… you remind yourself of your intention, you get back on track… you get distracted again… and on and on and on. Once you raise awareness… it takes less time to realize you’ve fallen off the path and it becomes easier to get focused.
For best results, take away the expectations from meditation. See it was a way to rest your mind. Take whatever comes without judgement.
Guided Meditation Apps
Playlist
Naval Ravikant’s Philosophy on Meditation
