Take a breath...Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years, but rather than being an out-dated concept, more and more people are turning to meditation to help them cope with the demands of the modern world. It is estimated that 60 - 90 % of visits to the doctor are stress-related. That's little wonder. We're living in a time of change that's higher than ever experienced before in history. Whether it's social, economical and political change, the speeding up of the pace of life, the rapid rise in technological developments, increasing demands at work, the pressures of social media, or our 24/7 lifestyles, people are feeling more and more overwhelmed by the demands and distractions of a complicated world. Add to that illnesses, family responsibilities and personal tragedies, and it's not hard to understand how we can get pulled out of ourselves and end up losing sight of what is most important. If we're not careful, we can get so caught up in our heads that we live as though we are on autopilot, and frighteningly, even when the good stuff is happening, we're not really there to experience it. Our minds are off revisiting the past or worrying about the future, planning, daydreaming, and missing the miracle of life going on around us. |
...and you're home.
Meditation can feel like coming home to yourself, to the peace and stillness we already have inside of us. It helps us to slow down, take stock, get out of our heads, switch off that autopilot and get into the moment.
What's more, scientists are now proving that regular meditation produces measurable benefits in our health and our mental, physical and wellbeing. Meditation won't solve all your problems, but it will make them easier to deal with and help you to enjoy the richness of life along the way. |
Like learning any new skill, meditation takes a bit of practice in the beginning. It can be helpful to learn from a qualified and experienced teacher, and to practice regularly with others in a class.
So when the turbulence of our hectic lives makes us feel that we are adrift on a stormy sea, we remember that, regardless of our external circumstances, that place of stillness inside of us is always there to come home to. |