Have you ever felt like your head was just going to explode, you couldn’t nail a thought down or complete a sentence? You have probably been there, where life is just stressing you out completely, and you can’t seem to find a starting or stopping point. It is at times like these that meditation is absolutely necessary to regain peace of mind.
No, meditation is not a dirty word or a no-no for Christians. Although it has become associated with New Age practices, that isn’t the true origin of the term or the practice. To “meditate” means to reflect, contemplate, or think deeply about something. The Psalms speak numerous times of David and other singers meditating upon the Lord, upon His goodness, upon the beauty of His creation…and on their woes, sins and troubles. Meditation doesn’t have to be positive, but it should be, in your life.
When done properly, meditation allows you to calm your mind, body and spirit. You can then concentrate on the important things, prioritize, act logically, and listen to the still, small voice within you, directing you down the right path and steering you away from the wrong one. And one of the main benefits of meditation is stress relief. What are some simple, practical meditation tips that will help you to reduce stress ?
- Set the time aside. In order to get maximum benefits from meditation, it needs to be practiced regularly. This means putting aside the time and making the opportunities to do it—and sticking with your schedule. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and start out with an hour; try ten minutes at first, and then you can increase the increments as you like.
- Set the stage. You can’t meditate (concentrate) in the middle of a whirlwind. This means you must set the mood or tone. Find a quiet place, even if it’s in your walk-in closet or bathroom. Make it comfortable, but not so comfy you fall asleep! An ideal place is outside, but someplace where you can hear the sounds of nature, not the traffic going by. The crickets, birds and sighing wind are God’s original soundtrack for meditation. If you can’t get outside, try a dimly-lit room or space, and bring in some “mood-enhancing” sound effects, such as a CD specially designed for this practice, a small rock fountain, or even just a fan. The combination of stillness, dimness, and white noise will help you to tune out the outside, and tune into the inside—of you.
- Have a purpose. Don’t just sit down and close your eyes, or you may end up dozing off! If your intention is to achieve better mental clarity, or peace, know that ahead of time. Write down some things you want to think about (meditate on), and once you have achieved a level of relaxation, you can begin attuning yourself to those things.
- Concentrate on breathing. This may seem silly and New-Agey, but the fact is, our breath is the life within us. It is the rhythm with which we move. The inspiration of God is described as His breath, so there is nothing strange about this. If you’re panting or breathing too shallowly, you will end up hyperventilating or becoming even more stressed out. Take long, measured, deep breaths through your nose. Hold them for a moment, then expect them through your mouth, until your lungs are emptied completely. Then repeat. This cycle will slow your heart rate, your brain wave activity, and will help induce a meditative state, where your mind is alert and receptive, but the stress is drained away.
By practicing these few elementary steps, you will find that your daily outlook on life is improved, you have better stress management, and your mind is clearer and calmer. Meditation is a gift from God, one which can be used to get closer to Him and to learn more about ourselves, all at once.
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