Meditation: One Woman's Method

Meditation is defined by the Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary as "the act of meditating; close or continued thought; the turning or revolving of a subject in the mind; serious contemplation; reflection; musing." Meditation is used all over the world. Some religions rely heavily on meditation. My personal experiences with this are that it can relieve stress, encourage creative thinking, and increase productivity.

You can make your meditation ritual as simple or as complicated as you want. My personal method is very basic, as I have limited time to myself with work, kids and other family all demanding my attention.

When I meditate, I find a comfortable place to sit. I close my eyes, and push all the thoughts out of my mind. Clearing your mind may sound difficult, and often is at first, but with practice will become easier. Taking slow deep breaths, I picture myself in a better place. Some refer to this as their happy place. Everyone will have a different "happy" place.

I picture each detail one by one. I start with the long flowing grass in a large field. I fill in the large trees far off in the distance, and then the warm sun shining on my skin. I paint a rainbow in the sky, followed by a few playful butterflies. As I picture these, I really concentrate on feeling them. I don't move on to the next detail until I really feel the previous one. Once the scene I've painted in my mind has become real to me, I'm ready to face the real world again. Taking another breath, I open my eyes. I feel calm, my thoughts are collected, and I feel like I can move mountains.

Your choice of scene to build will be a personal one. Men may like to picture themselves behind the wheel of a Ferrari Enzo flying down the Autobahn. They would feel the leather of the seats beneath them, hear and feel the throaty roar of the motor, and feel the wind in their hair. Others may prefer to remember a happy moment of their childhood. The place you choose should feel safe, and offer freedom from everything.

I find meditation easier when I use it often. Letting stress build up in your life can cause many problems. If you have a chance, spend five minutes each day in meditation. If every day is too hard, you can fit it in whenever you have time, or whenever you just need a break from reality. Not only will you be healthier, you will have better control over your emotions, and you may even start to see the world a little bit differently.

To make this more complicated, you could dress in your most comfortable clothes, light a few candles, and play some gentle instrumental music. You can add some gentle stretching or yoga before or after meditation, or use it to prepare yourself for a big project.