“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.” -Eckhart Tolle
Meditation is an important part of our daily lives, often neglected. Growing up, thoughts of mysticism, far away lands, temples or Buddhist masters were conjured up when I thought of “meditation”. This made meditation something of a distant experience, rather than a daily practice to improve mental clarity and overall peace of overall well-being.
In fact, meditation does not have to be a deep methodical practice. Think of it as training yourself to relax. We live in such a high strung culture of media, information, rush hour traffic, modern day pollution, seemingly endless workdays, caffeine, mixers, parties, and life on-the-go in general. Some of us are prudent and take the time to ourselves to unwind, get regular massages and self-pampering, but ‘relaxing’ is often a very small portion of our lives.
Just a few minutes per day can make a significant impact on your immediate mood and long-term health. When was the last time you remember participating in an activity that centers your energy and reminds yourself of your full intentions for your day and life ahead of you?
You may want to start with a few minutes per day and work your way up to a routine of 15 minutes. As you find your comfort zone, you may decide to expand on that for different purposes and to allow yourself an opportunity to reflect and empower your thoughts and words.
In close, one of our favorite authors and friends, Kevin Hall, is constantly telling us, “Every thought you think will have a direct impact on your life.”
Whether you are new to meditation or an advanced practitioner, this post is meant to serve as a reminder for self-awareness for whatever we may need to work on in this present moment in our lives. Take a few minutes to relax your mind, body, and soul. Let us know how it goes for you.
In addition to the link above, you may want to download a meditation app, such as Calm, Stop, Breathe & Think, Omvana, or look up “self-guided meditations” on YouTube.
