How To Meditate (& Why it May Help You Overcome Depression)
Meditation involves silencing our mind. It is not an intellectual activity, but an attempt to expand our consciousness and be aware of our ‘real sense of being.’ Meditation can be a practical tool for relaxation, concentration and better health; it can also be an invaluable tool to self discovery. Through meditation we develop the capacity to be content with ourselves as we are. It is a happiness not dependent on external wealth and success. If practiced correctly, meditation can be a powerful antidote to depressive thoughts.
How To Meditate
It is hard to pick up meditation from just reading an article, but I would like to share a few basic pointers about what meditation involves. No matter what form of meditation you follow, the basic shared principle is to quieten your thoughts and mind. We can sit in a chair for many hours, but, if thoughts continually pass through our mind then our meditation will be ineffective. Ultimately the aim is to have a mind free of thoughts. It is in this inner silence that we can experience a consciousness of real peace.
At first glance, people may find the concept of stopping thoughts very difficult. If you try sitting silent for a while, you will probably be inundated with thoughts. When giving meditation classes, the difficulty of controlling the thoughts is a common experience. However, if you sincerely try, you can learn to reduce the power of thoughts over yourself.
These are some tips I suggest for controlling your thoughts:
You control your thoughts not the other way around. Always remember it is you who can decide which thoughts to pursue and which to reject. Never feel a slave to your own thoughts, even if at times they seem powerful.
Patience. Don’t expect a silent mind after the first few attempts. We have been thinking all our life; to change a habit of a lifetime requires persistence and perseverance. Meditation, like any worthwhile activities requires dedicated and focused intensity.
Detachment. If you keep rejecting thoughts, what happens is that you may be aware of thoughts, but, they have much less intensity. A thought bubbles up, but, it becomes easier to detach from it. You start to see thoughts as independent and outside of yourself. This is a good sign, it shows you are developing the capacity to separate the sense of self from your mental thoughts. From this point it becomes easier to stop your thoughts completely.
Concentrate on something. It is hard to control our thoughts through the power of the mind. To achieve inner silence it is advisable to choose something to focus our attention on. This may be the use of a simple mantra; it may be concentrating on a candle or flower. Personally, I concentrate on the ‘heart center’. Try listening to your heart beat and feel your awareness leaving the mind and entering the heart. If you can consciously leave the mind, it becomes much easier to reduce the power of thoughts.
Intensity. If we are satisfied with outer life, we will feel no aspiration to meditate. Effective meditation requires an aspiration to discover inner peace and inner happiness. Meditation is not something to be done mechanically; it should be done with intensity and focus. Meditate with the feeling that this is our last day on earth.
Meditation and Depression
When we are depressed, we will notice a powerful stream of negative thoughts. Often when we become depressed, we don’t feel like meditating, everything seems lacking in hope. However, if we can meditate effectively; if we can go beyond these negative thoughts and quieten the mind, we really can have a dramatic change in our frame of mind. This ability to silence the mind is invaluable as an aid to overcome unhappiness.
However, I would caution one thing. We have to be careful, if we feel miserable or angry, we need to be even more careful that we meditate properly. If you sit down to meditate but can’t stop the thoughts endlessly going round, it is better to give up and try something else like going for a walk. The reason is that when we meditate there is tremendous intensity. If we just ‘concentrate’ on our negative thoughts we make them more powerful. Therefore, when meditating to overcome depression, it is even more important to detach from these negative thoughts. It is the ability to silence the mind and thoughts which will help the depression to clear.
I became interested in meditation when studying in my final year at University. I had enjoyed the usual student life, but, there I had an increasing sense that something was missing; nothing could really give the sense of satisfaction I was searching for. I read a few spiritual books and wanted to try meditation. I went to some meditation classes organized by the Sri Chinmoy Centre in Oxford and have been meditating as a student of Sri Chinmoy for the past 9 years.
Learn more about meditation:
- 8 Minute Meditation: Quiet Your Mind. Change Your Life.
- Guided Meditations: For Calmness, Awareness, and Love
- Meditation for Beginners
- Opening to Meditation: A Gentle, Guided Approach
- Insight Meditation: A Step-By-Step Course on How to Meditate
About the writer: Tejvan writes about meditation and many other topics at his self improvement blog Sri Chinmoy Inspiration. You can subscribe here.
Learn how I found happiness and meaning and how you can too. Get your FREE copy of my e-book by signing up.
82 Comments
August 21st, 2008 at 7:01 am
I don’t see meditation as a way of controlling thoughts but just to be aware of them when they arise and bringing them back to the present. I also prefer to use breath as the meditation “object”. Still, I must admit that I’m not an expert on meditation and that there must be tons of way to quietening the mind.
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September 17th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Meditation is not an effort to quiet the mind, althought this misconception is wide-spread.
Meditation is a witnessing of the train of thought, aka “seeing the waterfall”, which is happening most of the time unconsciously.
By watching and naming the process can be quitened though, although this is not the number one goal.
Attaining insight in the mind, body, emotions, … hence The True Self, “Mind at large” is.
Alan Watts on meditation :
We could say that meditation doesn’t have a reason or doesn’t have a purpose. In this respect it’s unlike almost all other things we do except perhaps making music and dancing. When we make music we don’t do it in order to reach a certain point, such as the end of the composition. If that were the purpose of music then obviously the fastest players would be the best. Also, when we are dancing we are not aiming to arrive at a particular place on the floor as in a journey. When we dance, the journey itself is the point, as when we play music the playing itself is the point. And exactly the same thing is true in meditation. Meditation is the discovery that the point of life is always arrived at in the immediate moment.
- Alan Watts
More on meditation - http://luminousinspirations.bl.....meditation
2Da1s last blog post..Prayer before and after meditation
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August 21st, 2008 at 7:03 am
Great-I have tried meditation and found it extremely difficult (personally). I think that once mastered, meditation can be a powerful thing for relaxing your mind. However, I find that it is still extremely difficult for me to quiet my mind- it seems like there are always at least a million things that I’m thinking about at any given time….
janelles last blog post..Traffic Secrets 2.0 - Social Strategy CD 7 in Review - There are 12 CD’s in the Program
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August 21st, 2008 at 7:31 am
I know from personal experience that some forms of meditation (such as using affirmations) can definitely help with depression. I will add one caution, however. If you are depressed to the point that it is interfering with your life in any way (moderate to severe depression), take the drugs first. It’s nearly impossible to work on higher order brain functions until you get your emotions stabilized.
Maria | Never the Same River Twices last blog post..The Intersection of Project Management and Change Management: An Interview With Bas de Baar of Project Shrink
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August 21st, 2008 at 10:53 am
I’ve tried to meditate, to quiet my mind, but it seems that the time is passing by, and I don’t do nothing …is just like I’m doing nothing.
M!hai @ Freshomes last blog post..Unique Bedroom Idea Using Stained Glass and Stainless Steel
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August 21st, 2008 at 11:35 am
Also, there are more scientific reasons to meditate. It makes you more aware, and produces beta waves in your mind. This makes it easier for you to learn and memorize new things.
megals last blog post..Why you think your memory is bad
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August 21st, 2008 at 12:05 pm
In my latest post My Brain Is My Favorite Toy I wrote: “I was seriously depressed when I was a child because I was bored out of my mind, and I never want to go there again.” For me the answer is to make sure I have enough challenge in my life, but challenge based on my deepest values. That’s what optimizing stress and the traits of stress-hardy, resilient people are all about.
I also meditate almost every day, usually using a biofeedback device. It gives me immediate feedback on how my body is responding. I also exercise every day…that’s a proven aid for depression.
Great post. Thanks for writing about a topic near and dear to my heart.
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monks last blog post..My Brain Is My Favorite Toy
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August 21st, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Meditation not only helps with depression, but is a great help in staving off depression. There was a time when I was so overwhelmed with financial woes that I just wanted to bury my head in the sand and ignore my problems. When I realized that having my head in the sand left another part of my body vulnerable , I knew I wasn’t helping myself by dwelling in denial and evasion.
I listened to guided meditations in early afternoons when the kids were at school. Slowly I began to see ways to begin digging my self out of the hole I was in. Facing my problems head on and taking small steps eventually got me out of my emotional and financial slump.
That was many years ago, but I still count on affirmations and prayer, and occasionally meditation to keep me on even keel.
Flora Morris Brown, Ph.D.s last blog post..The Other Side of Procrastination
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February 17th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
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August 21st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I desire change in my life too. Growth is a powerful thing. If you don’t mind I would like to post you on my blog and likewise. Hit me back at your earliest convience. Peace
Desire Changes last blog post..Greatness
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August 21st, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Meditation is a very powerful, but silent tool to overcome depression. You create your own reality. First just enjoy the “chaos” of your random thoughts, than it will calm down and you can relax.
Zoltans last blog post..OVERCOMING JEALOUSY - OVERCOMING INSECURITY
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August 21st, 2008 at 10:40 pm
There is nothing more powerful than meditation done properly. And there is nothing more demanding, for one day it will require you to have both feet on the same path. If you do not, the two paths you tread will diverge and you will fall. By then, it is a long way down.
That said, begin right — and commit to living with integrity.
Cheers,
John
John Rocheleau - Zen-Momentss last blog post..How to Stimulate Your Creative Thinking
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August 22nd, 2008 at 2:59 am
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August 22nd, 2008 at 2:59 am
I have been mediating for years, i have experienced significant improvement in my life for the past couple of years…….. Buddhist meditation is the key to success
poojithas last blog post..Do You See Reality?
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August 22nd, 2008 at 4:15 am
Meditation is very good. Good for the heart and soul.
RD
http://www.decrypt.net.tc
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August 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 am
I meditate daily. It took me a good two months before I really was at the point where I could silence my mind. Over the course of that two months, I slowly became aware of my thoughts and learned to observe them, detached, and let them float away.
There is a meditation guide in one of my favorite “self-help” manuals - The TAD Principle. It was very helpful to me.
Good luck.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 5:57 am
Great read! I would recommend focusing on your breathing while meditating.
David
Nanomedicines last blog post..Hepatitis B and the nano vaccine
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August 22nd, 2008 at 6:31 am
I’ve been meditating for 5 years, and I remember my biggest problem when I started was boredom. I started 10 minutes / day, and during my sessions my mind would drift off to wondering when it would end. It took a few months, but eventually I could sit for a half hour without any problem, without getting bored, without thinking about when it would end, without thinking about things I needed / wanted to do, etc.
I’d like to add that my Zen training taught me to turn other activities into a meditative practice. For example, washing dishes and being completely present, feeling the dish and water, hearing it, being aware of the light in the room, feeling the floor under your feet, other sensations, “doing what you’re doing when you’re doing it” etc. I find that not only am I getting “free” meditation time, I actually enjoy the chores (although that’s not really the point).
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August 22nd, 2008 at 6:44 am
Thanks for this post. I enjoy your writing, Tejvan…
Meditation is quite a subjective experience. I find it difficult to accept that there is a “proper” way to meditate.
I believe meditation is whatever means available or within a given person’s capacity to remove physical world distractions to find inner peace.
I tend to lean toward commenter, Evelyn, and her idea that meditation does not need to be a means of “controlling thoughts” but more of a process of mindful attention to the present moment.
“Focusing” can be somewhat hyper-intentional and quite difficult for the average person. Mindful attention to the present moment — the kind of attention that can carry us to the following moment — one which removes physical world distractions — is easiest to achieve.
Mindful attention can be done while taking a walk or driving a car on your way to work. It goes with you — it does not require a quiet room with a candle or intense concentration.
“In the cultivation of the mind, our emphasis should be not on concentration, but on attention. Concentration is a process of forcing the mind to narrow down to a point, whereas attention is without frontiers.” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti
Thanks for the post…
Kent @ The Financial Philosopher
The Financial Philosophers last blog post..Thinking Outside of ‘The Game’
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August 22nd, 2008 at 6:56 am
Just thought I’d share a funny story about this. I work in an office at a very small company. On my lunch breaks I decided to use a few minutes to start learning to meditate. I have gotten pretty good at it (I started a couple years ago) - but when I first got to the point that I could really stop thinking of normal everyday things, I started to notice this high pitch noise that just seemed to be coming directly from my mind. It was so extremely annoying. I almost gave up, until one day I had tried, and a test computer of mine was turned off. That day there was no noise ‘in my mind’. I know it sounds strange, but somehow the fan on that computer, I never had noticed before - and I barely notice now. However, if I start to meditate, it only takes seconds before the sound of that computer is very prominent and I have to shut it off!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 9:07 am
Concentrate on inhalation the exhalation. Your mind will empty & the ride will begin. I also like some ambient Brian Eno or Harold Budd music at low volume. Fragmented music seems to help get into the zone. Try Eno / Budd Ambient 2- The Plateaux of Mirror. It helps.
What is weird for me is that if I meditate once or twice a week or even less I can get to the void. If I try to do it more often. The void doesn’t show up. It’s like it knows I am chasing it.
What is the void when I meditate? It is dark…..then a dark purple (more of a violet color) blob shows up & it starts making different shapes…like a lava lamp. Most times the blob keeps moving against the dark background. Sometimes it takes wings & flies off….only to return as another shape….then when I am deep into the void sometimes peoples faces show up from 20 or more years ago. One time as I concentrated on my breath I became the air I was breathing & on my exhale I left my body & I felt like I was everywhere like the air….it was cool weird.
That is some of my experiences.
Oh & a lot of times as I breath out it feels like the violet blob turns into rings & the rings come from behind my head & go forward like I am going backwards up a tunnel. I get this tunnel feeling a lot & it feels marvelous & I don’t know why.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 am
[...] How To Meditate (& Why it May Help You Overcome Depression) (original post) Posted by Tejvan Pettinger on August 21st, 2008 Image courtesy of Spisharam [...]
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
[...] meditation, so I did a little search on meditation and found the Change blog and his article on how to meditate. It’s a pretty good article and made me think about all the ways that I use to turn off my [...]
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:39 am
” The first lesson is just to breathe in a measured way, in and out. That will harmonise the system. Let the word flow in and out with the breath, rhythmically, harmoniously, and you will find the whole body is becoming rhythmical. Then you will learn what rest is. Compared with it, sleep is not rest. Once this rest comes the most tired nerves will be calmed down, and you will find that you have never before really rested. “
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August 22nd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Meditation is the practice of discernment and awareness. There is no you, all manifestations of “I” are Ego trying to box reality into a tangible and cohesive picture that is actually fluid and changeable. Depression is a solidification of perception, seeing things the way we want to see them, stubborn ignorance. Meditation breaks down these walls and barriers we have created and gives us “breakthrough capacity” to go further than we have ever gone before, to extend. Meditation is not focusing or paying attention, its also not a verb, “To Meditate”. There are many methods of meditation, however they all rely on a fixed pattern of interaction. You must learn them, to unlearn them, to learn and to unlearn. And they don’t call it the practice of meditation without reason, its something you do 24/7, in all dimensions, interactions, and perceptions.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
From vBharat.com » How to Meditate…
Meditation involves silencing our mind. It is not an intellectual activity, but an attempt to expand our consciousness and be aware of our ‘real sense of being.’ Meditation can be a practical tool for relaxation, concentration and better health; it…
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
great article. I recently started to meditate and found it to be very refreshing. Its amazing how much your brain is constantly thinking about things every moment of the day. Spending that time to just even try breathing exercises has increased my productivity, creating a better focus and happier perspective.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I find that if i mediate first thing in the day, my whole day goes better.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Great, well written post. Nice to see this subject given so much focus.
And congrats on Digg noticing!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Thank you
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August 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I find it odd that you wrote this long article on mediation and depression but you don’t talk at all about the *scientific* reasons meditation works.
Get this.
Lots of research seems to heavily indicate that meditation stimulates neurogenesis.
Hence, 5 weeks of meditation on a regular basis (I think it’s a few hours a week) is as effective on depression as 5 weeks on an SSRI antidepressant, which also happens to be just as effective on depression as regular exercise for 5 weeks.
This is why I often try to tell people to get off their asses (or meditate) instead of turning to a drug that has, at times, complicated side effects.
Plus, you benefit physically from the exercise if you choose that route.
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August 23rd, 2008 at 7:24 am
[...] How To Meditate [...]
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Awesome post! Meditation is definitely helping me to regulate my mood. I struggled with the process for years. Recently I purchased the Centerpointe Holosync CD’s and they have really helped me to get in the groove. I have a post on my blog where I share what my experiences have been with the CD’s so far at http://melissathinksoutloud.co.....-rainbows/
I’m very excited to see where the regular practice of meditation will take me.
I’m for any method that takes people away from medications. I have taken SSRI’s in my life and it seems that no one knows exactly how they work, which makes me worry. What else are they doing to our bodies or our brains? I’ll take the natural alternatives whenever possible!
Melissas last blog post..Attracting Wealth - I’m Doing It!!!
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August 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
[...] “How to Meditate (& Why It May Help You Overcome Depression” at The Change Blog–author tells how meditation helped him and tells us how it will meditation will benefit as well [...]
August 23rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
[...] with overcoming depression, as I am not affected by that, a recent Change Blog entry titled How To Meditate gave me some pointers to help clear my [...]
August 23rd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Thanks for kind comments and interest in meditation.
I agree there is no ‘right way’ to meditate. There are many different approaches and people need to find the approach right for them. It is certainly a big subject and there is increasing scientific evidence about the benefits of meditation. This was just a short insight into some practical meditations that I have found useful in my life.
Tejvan Pettingers last blog post..Dealing With Mistakes
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August 23rd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
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August 23rd, 2008 at 3:31 pm
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August 23rd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Andrew and Tejvan,
Thanks for the extra information, Andrew. I like Tejvan’s approach of sharing his personal experiences rather than trying to write a treatise on meditation. Posts like this mean a lot more to me than pieces that try to cover everything. They encourage sharing among the readers. I also appreciate it when the readers give me extra information about the relevant science. So thanks again to you both.
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monks last blog post..My Brain Is My Favorite Toy
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August 23rd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
[...] you learn to meditate, you must learn to concentrate on one thing at a time. Usually, the mind tries to hold several [...]
August 24th, 2008 at 2:53 am
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August 24th, 2008 at 6:02 am
[...] How to Meditate (& Why It May Help You Overcome Depression) {the change blog} [...]
August 24th, 2008 at 6:21 am
[...] How to Meditate (& Why It May Help You Overcome Depression) {the change blog} [...]
August 24th, 2008 at 8:04 am
A very interesting and well written article about the benefits of meditation. I’ve been a believer for a long time.
[Reply]
August 24th, 2008 at 10:27 am
[...] you are interested in meditation and you short How To, this is post for you. Help yourself to overcome depression and enjoy many [...]
August 24th, 2008 at 11:34 am
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August 25th, 2008 at 5:01 am
[...] How To Meditate (& Why it May Help You Overcome Depression) [...]
August 25th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Great points here Peter. This certainly inspires me to pick up meditation as a regular habit. Thanks for the insight.
Marc and Angel Hack Lifes last blog post..70 Things To Do Before Having Children
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August 25th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Fantastic article! Everyone should read this and learn how to meditate is some way or another. Even just a few moments/day can make all the difference in the world in how we function!
Doc KC
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August 25th, 2008 at 7:59 am
A very extensive work about meditation (in the form of Mindfullness) as a way to free yourself from depression is “The Mindful Way through Depression”.
It draws on the collective wisdom of four internationally renowned cognitive therapy and mindfulness experts, including bestselling author Jon Kabat-Zinn, to help you break the mental habits that can lead to despair.
http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-.....amp;sr=8-4
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August 26th, 2008 at 6:36 am
[...] Meditation gives your very active brain a rest. When it’s rested you will have more energy and function at a higher level. Types of meditation include yoga, hypnosis, relaxation tapes, affirmations, visualization or just sitting in complete silence. Find something you enjoy and make the time to practice daily. [...]
August 26th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
[...] es fácil aprender y menos leyendo un pequeño artículo, como este que nos cuenta cómo meditar, pero por lo menos podemos hacernos una idea de los pasos que hay que seguir, unos primeros [...]
August 27th, 2008 at 1:49 am
Easiest way to meditate is consciously inhale and exhale. Inhale……. exhale…….. inhale…… exhale………. Every few minutes check if you are breathing or not.
Rajeshs last blog post..Six pack abs muscles exists in all individuals
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August 28th, 2008 at 7:02 am
[...] your BMI - Metric BMI Calculator (tags: health bmi calculator bodymassindex via:mento.info) How to Meditate "It is hard to pick up meditation from just reading an article, but I would like to share a [...]
August 29th, 2008 at 7:02 am
[...] The benefits of meditation [...]
August 29th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
[...] read more | digg story [...]
September 1st, 2008 at 12:00 am
[...] Any self help or personal development coach will talk about the benefits of meditation. The Change Blog recently published a good Beginners Guide on How to Meditate. [...]
September 1st, 2008 at 12:00 am
[...] Any self help or personal development coach will talk about the benefits of meditation. The Change Blog recently published a good Beginners Guide on How to Meditate. [...]
September 14th, 2008 at 12:17 am
[...] presents How To Meditate (& Why it May Help You Overcome Depression) posted at The Change [...]
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:01 am
Meditation creates so many obstacles for beginners and I like the way this post bring to the fore some of the things people face as they first attempt meditation. Figuring the how to of meditation can be a frustrating experience but with patience, practice, guidance, experimentation and trust in the process many people have received the many benefits meditation brings to their lives.
Keep trying until you find the meditation practice which suits you best. Try things out, give them your full attention for as long as it takes to come to know if this style or process is the one for you. Each time you learn something new, you win! Blessings to all.
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September 29th, 2008 at 2:37 am
I have recently returned to meditation and found the buddhist acceptance type meditation to be really helpful.
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October 5th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Meditation is such a powerful tool to quiet the mind and steady the mood. It doesn’t cost anything and has no side effects. I only wish more people would start with what they can do to help themselves rather than running first to a pill.
A beautiful article, well written and very timely. Thank you for sharing.
[Reply]
October 10th, 2008 at 2:28 am
[...] Why it May Help You Overcome Depression) Submitted by rpetit on Friday, 10 October 2008No Comment Posted by Tejvan Pettinger on August 21st, 2008 Image courtesy [...]
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I use mediation every single to relax and prepare my subconscious mind to soak in my visions of a better lifestyle. However, I feel like I only slip into the “trance” for a brief moment. How do I stay in this moment for longer?
Another method I’ve been using lately is visualization with vision boards. Have you ever heard of them? They are images pasted on a board that represents your hopes, dreams, and goals. Studying these boards every days plants seeds of these goals within your subconscious mind.
Your subconscious mind is where all of habits are formed. Combine these visualizations with mediation and affirmations, and the seed in your subconscious mind will begin to grow, sprouting a newly developed habit that is oriented towards your desired outcome, or goal.
John Assaraf does a better job of explaining this and showing you how to do it in his new book “The Complete Vision Board Kit.” I downloaded the free chapter here: http://tinyurl.com/56mfen
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October 29th, 2008 at 4:01 am
[...] one sounds simple enough, but give it a try. It is harder than you think. We are so accustomed to noise and to being in the [...]
October 31st, 2008 at 3:01 am
[...] meditation can represent a major breakthrough in your life. You are unlikely to suddenly meditate your way from down-in-the-dumps to on-top-of-the-world in your first sitting, but you can expect to [...]
November 5th, 2008 at 10:23 am
A great thing about this is that you can do meditation anywhere. No special equipment required, etc. And work it in as you can. Good post.
[Reply]
November 6th, 2008 at 12:47 am
[...] How To Meditate [...]
November 6th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Your text about a great amount of intensity being present when we meditate seems very different from my experience. I’ve been meditating for about 20 years, teaching others also, and what actually happens is the absence of velocity…no intensity, just peace, stillness, and the direct experience of self or essence.
The outcome of meditation can be quite powerful and intense. The intensity can be enhanced through balancing inner awareness with outward expression. Those of us who are not “practicing”, who do not follow someone else’s doctrine or belief system, find that meditation is simply being, watching the mind and thought float in awareness.
Being present to what is actually happening in each moment is without all the instructions and rules. We can see the difference between what our minds are saying and what is actually happening.
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November 21st, 2008 at 3:04 pm
“If you sit down to meditate but can’t stop the thoughts endlessly going round, it is better to give up and try something else like going for a walk.” That sounds like very good advice. Your approach must help many people. That is wonderful.
Blessings,
Rebbie
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December 4th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Great advice. I recently started meditating and it really is relaxing. Normally i have a million things going on in my head at a time, so it’s nice to take some time and find some peace.
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December 17th, 2008 at 11:20 am
[...] How to Meditate - Meditation can be a practical tool for relaxation, concentration and better health; it can also be an invaluable tool to self discovery. This article shares practical advice for learning how to meditate. [...]
December 24th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
[...] How to Meditate - Meditation can be a practical tool for relaxation, concentration and better health; it can also be an invaluable tool to self discovery. This article shares practical advice for learning how to meditate. [...]
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I have been interested in meditation for some time and upon discovering your article I was finally prompted to take the initiative and try it. I have attempted it a few times and everytime I find myself falling asleep. Am I doing something incorrectly? What can I do to prevent this from happening?
[Reply]
February 17th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I have had anxiety/depression issues my whole life and I have been trying to meditate for years unsuccessfully. I have been unsuccessful at being capable of quieting my thoughts. I have experienced being overcome by my thoughts and having to stop meditation attempts because of it. I have read many books on the subject and followed the recommendations unsuccessfully…
I intend to try to concentrate on my heartbeat and try to move my awareness to my heart, it is a suggestion I have yet to read/receive so maybe it will work! I have tried all the others. Wish me luck!
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March 8th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I tried meditation a few times and it is hard for me to concentrate. Guess I need to stick with it some more. Focusing on my heartbeat is something i never thought of and should try. great article.
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March 25th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Meditation isn’t about stopping your mind…what a great way to assure failure. It’s ANYTHING that absorbs your attention - you can sit and just watch your breathing, or your thoughts, or you can walk, garden, wash dishes, make jewelry (my favorite) watch the sunset, stars, waves….or anything else that you can get kind of lost in. Have fun with it…you can even laugh and call that a meditation.
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March 28th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
will try meditating as way to help concentration at work
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May 20th, 2009 at 4:47 am
Meditation is very powerful tool in our hands if we want to use it.
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May 25th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Iam hindu and the meditiation is a must if we want to more closer to the GOD, also meditation usefull for our healthy since we can release the toxin out from our body via sweat.
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June 11th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I’m always delighted to see good discussions about meditation on the Internet. Most of the people who learn how to meditate with me are seeking a regular way to relax and release stress. Even infrequent or irregular meditation can be beneficial, but it is a regular meditation practice that yields the most benefits over an extended period of time.
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June 20th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Meditation is great for relieving stress and has calming affect. Thanks for posting meditation article, maybe if more people meditated, everyone wouldn’t be so stressed out about everything…
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