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Meditate Your Way To A Stress-Free Life
Stress can show up in any form, at any time - and it can be easy to succumb to it. Concerns such as school, friends, finances, family and our jobs can make life seem overwhelming - and sometimes it can be!
It's bad enough that stress can make its way into our everyday lives, but if we allow it to go on inside us without addressing it, we can face serious psychological, emotional and even physiological damage. So, how does one go about battling stress?
Meditation is not only one of the best ways to reduce stress; it's also one of the most well-studied and easiest ways to feel better. Though, to a modern reader - particularly the skeptic - meditation sounds rather woo-woo, it's not: not only has it been seen in every culture in the world over the last thousand years, there are scientific studies that have proven its value. By following the steps below, you'll learn how to silence your mind and to deeply relax. Afterwards, you'll wonder why you didn't start meditating sooner!
To begin, you need to clear yourself from everything - people, phones, work, etc.; anything that can distract you from relaxing. Make sure that you're alone and have enough time to get the relaxation you need because that's what it's all about. Also, you'll want to make sure that your body feels comfortable; therefore, you may need to change your clothing or to go into a room with soft furniture.
Think about sounds, memories, or ideas that tend to give you a feeling of calm, or ease, then try and mentally hold on to that particular item. For some, a vision of healing light can be very soothing. For others, the sound of gently crashing waves can lull them into a state of relaxation. Whatever your mental picture, clear your mind of anything else, allow your muscles to surrender completely, and completely ignore anything that may pull your focus away. Enjoy the peace you are creating for yourself.
Focus on this image as long as you can. When you feel yourself drifting away from the image, don't force it to stay. This is a good time to stop. Stretch and exhale deeply as you come back to reality. Congratulations, you have just completed the most simple and basic form of meditation! Pretty easy wasn't it?
This simple exercise is very effective because it allows you to reset your mental state. This is also the launching point for many other, more complex meditation exercises that will give you even more relaxation, and by practicing often you will gradually learn to sustain a meditative state. Once you've mastered it, you may want to take it to the next level by going deeper into the meditative trance.
Any stress relief activity can benefit from starting with this simple exercise. Adding a phrase or chant may also aid you in your relaxation as well - things like, "all is as it should be", or, "take it easy" are good examples.
So, the next time you're feeling tense, stressed, or anxious, you know what to do: find a word, idea, or image that makes you feel relaxed and meditate on it for a few minutes. You'll be glad you did because your agitation will melt away--and unlike most Western methods for stress-reduction, the only side-effects you have to look forward to are feeling calm, looser muscles, and a general sense of well-being!
It's bad enough that stress can make its way into our everyday lives, but if we allow it to go on inside us without addressing it, we can face serious psychological, emotional and even physiological damage. So, how does one go about battling stress?
Meditation is not only one of the best ways to reduce stress; it's also one of the most well-studied and easiest ways to feel better. Though, to a modern reader - particularly the skeptic - meditation sounds rather woo-woo, it's not: not only has it been seen in every culture in the world over the last thousand years, there are scientific studies that have proven its value. By following the steps below, you'll learn how to silence your mind and to deeply relax. Afterwards, you'll wonder why you didn't start meditating sooner!
To begin, you need to clear yourself from everything - people, phones, work, etc.; anything that can distract you from relaxing. Make sure that you're alone and have enough time to get the relaxation you need because that's what it's all about. Also, you'll want to make sure that your body feels comfortable; therefore, you may need to change your clothing or to go into a room with soft furniture.
Think about sounds, memories, or ideas that tend to give you a feeling of calm, or ease, then try and mentally hold on to that particular item. For some, a vision of healing light can be very soothing. For others, the sound of gently crashing waves can lull them into a state of relaxation. Whatever your mental picture, clear your mind of anything else, allow your muscles to surrender completely, and completely ignore anything that may pull your focus away. Enjoy the peace you are creating for yourself.
Focus on this image as long as you can. When you feel yourself drifting away from the image, don't force it to stay. This is a good time to stop. Stretch and exhale deeply as you come back to reality. Congratulations, you have just completed the most simple and basic form of meditation! Pretty easy wasn't it?
This simple exercise is very effective because it allows you to reset your mental state. This is also the launching point for many other, more complex meditation exercises that will give you even more relaxation, and by practicing often you will gradually learn to sustain a meditative state. Once you've mastered it, you may want to take it to the next level by going deeper into the meditative trance.
Any stress relief activity can benefit from starting with this simple exercise. Adding a phrase or chant may also aid you in your relaxation as well - things like, "all is as it should be", or, "take it easy" are good examples.
So, the next time you're feeling tense, stressed, or anxious, you know what to do: find a word, idea, or image that makes you feel relaxed and meditate on it for a few minutes. You'll be glad you did because your agitation will melt away--and unlike most Western methods for stress-reduction, the only side-effects you have to look forward to are feeling calm, looser muscles, and a general sense of well-being!
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HelpMeToStudy.org is the best resource for learning new study skills, transforming your studying habits and discovering the best study tips available. We will help change the way you think about study - and even better - we will show you how to study effectively: How To Study Effectively | No More Stress
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