12 Benefits of Meditation
If you don’t know already, meditation is a cure for many things. But it’s “hard” for most of us to take time out of our days to do it, which is odd. We will take time to do everything else that doesn’t contribute positively to our health, but we will strain to integrate key healthy habits that add longevity to our lives.
Benefits of Meditation
Reduces stress
Controls anxiety
Promotes emotional health
Enhances self-awareness
Lengthens attention span
May reduce age-related memory loss
Can generate kindness
May help fight addictions
Improves sleep
Helps control pain
Can decrease blood pressure
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Source: Matthew Thorpe, MD, Ph.D. and Rachael Link, MS, RD — Medically reviewed by Marney A. White, Ph.D., MS
Meditation Exercise
Today, take a moment to complete the following meditative exercise (below) in totality. After you complete this exercise, consider doing meditative exercises each day — if you don’t already. Your life will be more balanced, peaceful, and enjoyable if you take a few minutes each day to focus on your well-being.
Directions: Find a place where you will not be distracted that is free from noise. Continue into the subsequent stage once you are at peace and ready to leave your present stage.
Stage 1
Lie still on your back with your arms and legs stretched out like a snow angel.
Stage 2
Breathe in and out deeply, slowly, and meaningfully.
Stage 3
When you breathe out, let go of stress, problems, anxiety, and unhealthy thoughts.
Stage 4
When you breathe in, take in optimism, love, peace, and freedom.
Stage 5
While you lay still, realize that you are more than enough. Realize that you are whole all by yourself. Nothing and no one can complete you except for yourself.
Stage 6
Put your thoughts on mute and be one with the silence surrounding you.
Stage 7
Envision yourself by your favorite mountain, ocean, forest, garden, desert, or grassland and intake all the beauty that encapsulates you. Recognize how insignificant you are in comparison to the nature that surrounds you. Recognize how insignificant your problems are at this moment. Recognize that at this moment, you have no problems.
Stage 8
Release yourself from the meditative exercise, and enjoy your day — wholly, without fear, anger, anxiety, stress, or malice.
Stage 9
Say aloud: I am whole. I am peace. I am love. I am kindness. I am me.
Reminder
Be whole today because you already are.
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Destiny S. Harris is a writer, poet, entrepreneur, teacher, and techie who offers free books daily on amazon. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, or @ destinyh.com