Should You Try Meditation? Some Tips to Get Started.

Meditation benefits include - mental clarity, reduction of stress, increased focus, enhanced Self awareness, lowered blood pressure, improved sleep, reduction of pain, and the list goes on. 

Some call it silent prayer. Others say it’s listening to the still, small voice. I call it “getting in rapport with the Universe”. Whatever one chooses to call it, the jury has deliberated, and the verdict is in, anyone who chooses to adopt a daily practice of meditation is in for a plethora of benefits. These include reduction of stress, increased focus, enhanced Self awareness, lowered blood pressure, improved sleep, reduction of pain, and the list goes on. Mental clarity is another reward of a meditation discipline. I have noticed in my own path of meditation practice that my anxiety level has decreased over time. I was a very anxious, worried and stressed person before I started meditation . Now, everyday I meditate, those old feelings of stress and anxiety I used to experience are low to zero. I have also found a greater sense of confidence and direction through finding and utilizing a practice. There is certain peace and tranquility that comes from learning to be still in meditation. Think about it, going through the day without experiencing debilitating stress or anxiety. This is possible with meditation. 

 

 Which meditation practice is best?

​This is a question every beginner will likely wonder. In some meditation practices, there is an object of focus, resting the attention on the Heart center, breathing in and out, or a particular feeling or sound. This helps us focus on an object in the moment, thus releasing the “shoulds” and worries of our lives. There are countless different practices, such as a walking, sitting, and lying meditation. There is also the very popular visualization meditation.  You can close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and imagine an uplifting scene of your pleasing, possibly a nature scene with sounds of a running stream, the smell of blooming wildflowers, the feeling of a light warm breeze and the view of a pink sky, lit up by a summer sunset. The imagined experience, whatever you choose, when experienced fully and with all the senses, triggers elevated emotions that leave us with a sense of peace. Doing this practice regularly trains the body to be in a state of relaxation. 
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A little investigation will be needed to find your favored approach.

The main thing is to get started. Guided meditations are a great first step. This is a verbally directed meditation, so all you have to do is follow along. There are many different styles and everyone is different, so its important to find what works for you. Start out with 5 to 10 minutes then gradually extend the time and try different methods: 

Five Minute Meditation You Can do Anywhere
Forest Walk Guided Meditation     
Breathing Meditation

Starting meditation has been a positively life changing habit for all the people I know that have put aside their pre conceived notions and just tried it. Should you try Meditation? I’ll let you be the judge. of that.

​If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me.
Shiftofperspective@gmail.com

Robert Twine CCHT, PNLP