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Meditation, Spirituality Stress

Clearing the Mind

Scientific research over the last several decades has revealed that the most successful people use their minds differently than the average person. This is done through meditation.

Meditation is a state of concentrated attention on some thought or object of awareness. It usually involves turning your attention inward. By using meditation we learn to use the analytical side of the brain as well as the creative side of the brain. Most of us are more dominant to one side of the brain or the other.  Using both sides of the brain enhances our aptitude. Meditation can be used for personal development or to focus the mind on God, finding peace, or solutions to our problems.

Meditation is usually defined as a state of relaxed concentration on the reality of the moment or an experience when the mind is free of all thoughts. Your attention has been liberated from restlessness, focusing on a single object, invoking the guidance of a higher power. This can also be called centering, prayer, deep relaxation, self-hypnosis or contemplation. Successful people belong to those who have the ability to us both sides of the brain.

Believe in yourself and in your right to have what you seek. Believe that there is a solution to every problem. Believe that you have the potential to make greater things happen. Believe that you are worth it. Believe you can.

Anything you can conceive, believe, and genuinely desire, you can achieve when you apply your developed skills.

For example, changing the belief statement from, “I have so many problems that I’ll never be happy “ to “I will solve my problems and create greater happiness and health in my life.” This change has the potential of improving your living experience.  This is where meditation comes in. You can use this tool to change or enhance that basic belief system that is buried deep within your mind.

Can you imagine being able to achieve optimal health and achieve all your dreams with very little effort? You are entitled to have every happiness, success and fulfillment you can dream of. Maybe most of us are not aware of the help that comes from a greater source than ourselves. Imagine what it would be like to have it all. Imagine having health, great relationships, and monetary surplus.  There are laws that govern our ability to obtain these dreams.

We are living in a society with some of the greatest resources in history. We have some of the greatest teachers, greatest wealth, and some of the greatest doctors. Yet we have more divorces, new diseases, and so much war, contentions and general unhappiness. There is something wrong with this picture. We get so wrapped up in daily life that we forget that we can tap into something greater than ourselves and achieve more than we could ever accomplish on our own.

On the surface we think that if we just bulldoze through, things will get better. We are working ourselves to death and still not moving ahead. We are trying to build a tall building without building the foundation. We are creators and there are no helpless victims for any of us older than 18 years of age. We can use these laws and build upon them instead of living life like a bull in a china store. You can create anything you want. You do not have to settle for less.

I heard the story about a mom who had some old curtains in her living room. She said she didn’t like them and they were so worn out and ugly. When asked why she didn’t get new ones, her comment was that she couldn’t afford them.  So year after year she had the same curtains. One day someone told her she really must like the curtains or she would not still have them. If you really wanted them gone, they would be gone.  But how do I afford new ones?  That will come if you want it to.  Begin with getting rid of the curtains you do not like. When we keep old habits, and old thought process there is no room for new thoughts or in her case no room for new curtains.  In a few days she did have new curtains. She threw away the old ragged ones and cleared her mind to find a way to replace them. How do we do that with the mental clutter we live with everyday? How do we use this process to improve our health, to slow down the aging process, to improve relationships, to improve any area in our lives?

It is so important to let go of past problems, past failures and past difficulties.  In changing our deep inner thoughts, we can rise above. We need to let go of the ragged curtains in our lives to make room for better health, better relationships and become that person who is buried deep inside.

This process is a meditative state. The following will explain what you need to do. While in this meditative state you clear your mind to make room for problem solving, for healing of your self, to help others heal, or find what they need. In this state you can commune with that greater creator and allow room for inspiration and help.

This state also is a good stress reducer. It teaches how to completely relax in just a few minutes. Practice is what makes all things work better. Take 20 minutes everyday for meditation and you will find a total renewal of life.

Find a comfortable place and have on clothes that will allow you to relax. For me, I like to wear my morning sweats and just lay on the floor. You can’t get too comfortable because you don’t want to go to sleep. There is a difference between meditating and vegetating.  Now that you have your spot you are ready to start clearing your mind. Any time your mind starts to wander you need to bring it back to your meditation. This is not a time to think about the entire world revolving around you, or about the laundry, dishes and dinner.  This is a time for healing and inspiration.

Put on some music (no words) or a sound recording such as rain or water. This helps to keep the mind focused on what is at hand.

You start concentrating on the top of your head. Then move down the body to your toes.

1-Concentrate on the top of your head saying to yourself “Relax this portion of my body. Relax every cell every muscle, letting go of all my tension in this part of my body.”

2- The next part of the body is the face. Concentrate on the face saying, “Relax every cell, every muscle. Relax the muscles around the eyes and lips, then the cheeks.”

3- Move to the neck area repeating the same words and concentrating on these portions of the body.

You then move to the arms, the chest, the hips, the legs and the feet. After you have relaxed your entire body, you count backwards from 20 to 1. You can count from 10 to 1 or 30 – 1 which ever you need. As you do this, you feel yourself going deeper into relaxation.

4- Now think of a very peaceful place. For me, I like the beach listening to the water rush to shore. Maybe for you it could be sitting in the mountains, feeling the breeze blow on your face.

5- After you have visualized yourself in this peaceful place you can again count backwards from 10 – 1. You are now deeply relaxed and very open to inspiration. If you or someone you know is struggling with problems this is the state that you are able to help.

6- An example would be if you have a head ache you would visualize the pain leaving and energy entering in. You might  visualize the pain as a weed being pulled out, leaving  your head,  and flowers (new thoughts or ideas) being planted. Use whatever visualization you need in order to see the healing taking the place of pain. You could stay in this state for a few minutes or how ever time you feel is needed. It is a time to communicate with your greater power. You are more open to Heavenly Father’s instruction.

7- After you have spent the time needed in this meditative state, you can count from 1- 10 to come out, saying to yourself, “I am now awake feeling better than before, having greater health and peace than before. This is a new beginning and the rest of my life is the best of my life. I am now ready to help others in their journey.” You will feel very relaxed, the tension will have left your body.  With your new inspiration and energy, you will be better able to move forward on you destination.

This technique could only take 20 minutes or more if need. If you are short on time, a 5 min run down is better than none.

This can be used in any area of your life to help yourself or to help mankind.

The greatest health risks in our lives today is all stressed related. We tend to work ourselves to the bone instead of working toward our purpose. Take just this few minutes a day to help you realize your direction and the path to your destination, gaining health benefits along the way.

kristena@corelivingessentials.com