For so many reasons, stopping for a few minutes– without an agenda – can open an inner spaciousness that you didn’t realize your mind and body may crave.
“Meditation” can seem to be a daunting challenge. The mind is usually so busy, it’s hard to find the pause button. Bringing the mind and body together by focusing on one’s breath is the easiest way to begin to quiet the mind.
Giving attention to the tension held in your body makes it possible to release the tension. Attention to the parts of the body and their functions makes it possible to appreciate the body. Recognizing the blessing of our hands, our feet, our hearts is the beginning of gratitude. Perhaps NOW is the time to STOP and take a few moments to tune in by turning inward.
What better time than NOW to begin or deepen the simple practice of meditation?
Even a few minutes a day can help. The benefits of meditation are many:
- improve sleep
- relieve stress
- lower blood pressure
- increase compassion
- shift attitude
- and more…
A detailed guide on How to Meditate has been published by the New York Times. Use it to support your intention to clear your mind and become fully present in your life.
Additionally, there are many apps available, either free of charge or for a fee, to help support your practice. To name just a few apps, there’s the Mindfulness Bell which you can program to sound at different times, as a reminder to stop and breathe, the Insight Timer with guided meditations and meditative music, Calm, WakingUp, and many more that you can select from your App Store.
Start with five minutes a day and notice what kind of shifts a simple meditation practice can make in your day.
To take a deeper dive into mindfulness meditation, explore these resources:
Plum Village Mindfulness Practice
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course