It's no secret that a growing number of stressed-out people in the West are turning to meditation as a way to relax and recuperate from the demands of work and play. In fact, mainstream medicine is increasingly recommending meditation as a proven and effective stress-management tool that improves body, mind and mood.
But meditation offers a lot more than less stress, greater energy and better health. It's a spiritual practice renowned as a peaceful and enlightened way to face life's challenges and disappointments.
Below are three universal truths about meditation and stress management to keep in mind when going inside so you can calm down outside. By remembering these spiritual truths, your meditation will be a lot more mindful and meaningful.
Be here now. Meditation grounds you to the present moment. You might count breaths, focus on one part of your body or watch your thoughts come and go. No matter how you choose to get centered, you're pulling your attention from the future (and possibly back from the past) and bringing it to the only place it matters: Now. There is tremendous freedom - and stress relief - in bringing all of our scattered attention to a single point of present-moment awareness.
You are not alone. As we learn to sit and meditate, our ego gradually relinquishes its hold on our heads and hearts. We move away from making demands of the universe and start seeking how we might serve that universe. The more we give ourselves away through service, the more we come to realize our interconnectedness. Everyone wants to be happy and everyone wants to be free of suffering. Meditation teaches us how to face that collective longing and suffering with compassionate courage and grace.
Life is inconvenient. There will always be toilets to plunge, bills to pay and office parties to attend. Often when people start meditating, they think life's big and small inconveniences will stop happening or they'll stop sweating the small stuff. What a relief to learn that no one expects you to be perfect! What a joy to accept that you'll never get it all done! Stuff happens. Meditation is a convenient way of dealing with life's constant merry-go-round of surprises.
As you relax and de-stress through meditation, don't lose sight of the sacred and ancient tradition you're tapping into. Just as there's more to you than a bad day or a bad mood, meditation offers a lot more than stress relief - it invites you into a peaceful and joyful inner world that has your name written all over it.
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