Stimulate Your Mind, Craig!

     All week I’ve been giving out little tidbits of information about meditation & how it can add to your life. It has definitely helped to balance me out. I can generally be a high-strung person, taking on multiple tasks that pull me in different directions. That, in itself, makes me stressed to the max! I used to be at one of two extremes when I get stressed out: going off on anyone & anything in my path or completely shutting down. Now, the human in me still goes there on a few occasions, but for the most part, I have a pretty nonchalant attitude now when I get stressed. Between aging & learning some coping skills, I’ve learned to control the stress & not allow it to control me.

     Mindfulness meditation is a way to focus on your senses or what is going on in your mind in the moment. You concentrate on one thing but you don’t analyze it. It’s kind of like watching water flow down a stream. You watch & listen while just focusing on that. No worries, no thoughts, no stress; just freedom. It allows you to disconnect from thinking & really enjoy what you’re sensing around you. You’re essentially more in touch with reality. So calming!

     I started meditating over a year ago, & it has helped me wind down in the evenings (or at times during the day). Taking 10 minutes to disconnect can help in so many ways! Right now, I use the Calm app on my phone, & each day there is a new meditation loaded to play. It focuses on one topic, guides your meditation for the first 7-8 minutes, & ends with some uplifting knowledge. Some of the most inspirational quotes I’ve come across have been at the end of those meditations. I also find guided meditations on YouTube when I want to do something specific. It’s loaded with good ones.

     Studies show that meditation can help improve your brain & energy, relaxation, & heightening your awareness (Paddock, 2017; Teule, n.d.; The Art of Living, 2022). There’s so much you can learn about your body & mind by taking time to tap into them. You only get 1 body & 1 mind, so you have to do all that you can to feed them both top-notch things. Taking 10 minutes each day to stimulate your mind can only benefit you. I haven’t mastered being able to meditate without a guided meditation; my mind just won’t shut off that easily. However, I think I’ll eventually get to it. Every little bit counts! Below are a few places you can start meditating. Check them out & see what you think!

Mindfulness Meditations

https://m.youtube.com › watch5 Minute Guided Meditation For Positive Energy & Thinking – YouTube

https://m.youtube.com › watchSome Positive Energy to Start Your Day ~ 10 Minute Morning Guided …

https://m.youtube.com › watchPositive Energy Booster Meditation – Stress, Anxiety, and Negativity …

https://m.youtube.com › watchPositive Energy Before You Sleep Meditation – YouTube

References

Paddock, C. (2017, September 7). Just 25 minutes of yoga, meditation ‘boosts brain function, energy.’Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319333 

Tuele, E. (n.d.) Energy and meditation. Ekhart Yoga. https://www.ekhartyoga.com/articles/meditation/energy-and-meditation

The Art of Living. (2022). Meditation for increasing positive energy: How it works. https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/meditation/meditation-for-you/meditation-for-positive-