Meditation, the art of tuning in, is the perfect way to shut out your external world. When we close our eyes, we flip a switch that connects us to what’s going on inside. Almost instantly, we become aware of what we’re thinking and how we feel.
Try it right now. Close your eyes and take three slow, deep breaths. Notice this shift in energy in your body and your mind. See what I mean? When you close your eyes, you shut out the world. From this perspective you begin to notice how you feel and what you think in a way that most of us never acknowledge because of our busy lives.
For example, you might notice bodily sensations like the shallowness of your breath or the beating of your heart. You notice sounds that you were oblivious to before, like the hum of your computer or the noise of passing traffic. You notice your thoughts and the busyness of your mind as it worries, plans, or over-analyzes. When you learn to connect with your breath on a regular basis by closing your eyes and breathing deeply, you calm your nervous system. Then, as your mind settles, you learn to enter into a state of thoughtlessness so you can become an objective witness to the present moment.
Meditation can be challenging for those of us who are used to being busy. As technology advances at great speed, there are more ways than ever for people to make demands on our time and energy. We have voice-mail, e-mail, cell phones, beepers, faxes, snail-mail, and a myriad of time-management devices. We are bombarded with information and stimuli on a daily basis. This type of over-stimulation makes it very difficult to settle ourselves long enough to sit with silence.
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably noticed the busyness of your mind when you’ve tried to get quiet or meditate. As soon as you close your eyes and breathe, your mind quickly pulls you back outside by reminding you of what needs to be done (future focus) or of what didn’t get done (past focus). It’s this kind of frenetic over-analyzing that keeps people from using this important tool.
You don’t have to go on a month-long silent retreat, or move to India, to learn how to be still. There are simple ways to begin experiencing the power of stillness right now. For example, when waiting in line at the grocery store, gently close your eyes for several seconds and repeat to yourself: “May I feel calm. May I feel peace. May I feel relaxed.” You can use this same exercise when stuck in traffic or faced with a challenging problem at work.
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