Meditation: A Beginner's Guide Part II. The Benefits of Meditation Practice by Christin Snyder

In the first part of this series, we learned about the common
misconceptions surrounding meditation, indicating how it can benefit
anyone. Now we will explore the positive aspects of developing a
meditation routine. As stated earlier, a regular meditation program
spans many areas of health, and can improve the mind, body, and
spirit in a variety of ways. These benefits carry over into our
daily lives, and are not limited to only the time spent in meditation
practice.

Some of the many benefits of meditation include:

Mental Clarity

By learning to recognize and be aware of our thought
patterns, we can gain a better understanding our how the mind works.
In this process we enable ourselves to clear away random "mind-
chatter" while focusing on a particular goal. This practice extends
into our everyday lives, allowing us to recognize and stop self-
sabotaging thought patterns, redirecting them in positive directions.


Improved Concentration

Meditation is a form of relaxed concentration. The
mind is consciously directed to focus on a specific goal. We have
all had those days where our minds just don't seem to cooperate, we
feel unfocused, unmotivated or antsy. Some examples are writer's
block or dealing with deadlines. The pressure we feel contributes to
the lack of ability to concentrate. Meditation practice allows us
the tools we need to consciously focus our thoughts and pull our
minds back to the tasks at hand in a calm, relaxed way.


Emotional Balance

Meditation enhances emotional well-being by allowing
us to detach emotionally from our circumstances. Control of the
thought process allows us to breathe, take a step back, and regain
our perspective. The result is a consistently calmer person, able to
take positive action, rather than fall into the trap of emotional
reaction.

Stress Relief

Stress relief is a natural by-product of meditation.
In the process of quieting the mind and emotions, we allow our selves
a break from worry and anxiety. When anxiety is left uncontrolled,
the end result is stress, which can eventually lead to a variety of
other health problems.

Energy

Fatigue is a common symptom of stress. Meditation
is a natural stress reliever, even when it is only practiced a few
minutes per day. Even a few minutes of deep relaxation and stress
release allows our bodies and minds time to regenerate. Meditation
is a wonderful practice for those who find they could use more energy
throughout the day.

Multilateral Healing

We are multi-faceted creatures with many "bodies" to
care for: the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. When any
of these areas are off balance, the effects are felt throughout the
whole. It follows then, that by calming the mind, relieving stress,
and relaxing the body, the health benefits manifest on many levels.


Heightened Awareness

In our busy lives, it is very easy to become
distracted and preoccupied. We become so focused on our routines,
that the days begin to blend into each other. Meditation is an art
that draws our focus to the now, allowing us to shift our perspective
to what is. This allows us to drop worries over the future, regrets
from the past, etc. When we bring our mind/body/spirit to complete
and total awareness we open up to the senses in new ways, and we are
able to fully experience and appreciate the whole of any given
moment. In day to day life, this practice makes it easier for us to
stop, take a moment, and focus on what truly matters, making each day
more special and memorable.

Expanded Consciousness

By opening up to experience life fully within the
present moment, we find that we are naturally drawn into our
connection with the Universe/Divine. Through having control of our
inner world, we realize that we no longer need to struggle to try to
control our outer circumstances. That empowerment allows us to
embrace our life experience with gratitude and appreciation for the
process of life. It is often in these moments that we "find
ourselves" or become aware of a higher sense of purpose. We can use
these moments to recognize our connection to Spirit, the Divine Life
Force energy that flows through all things.

Inspiration

When we take a break from our busy thoughts and
hectic schedules and connect with our inner spirit we may find that
seemingly elusive answers to our troubles manifest "out of the blue"
during or after a meditative state. In connecting with our inner
world, we may find ourselves compelled to discover new things. Those
moments of quiet contemplation allow us the space and time necessary
to establish a bond with the deep well of creative energy that flows
within all of us.

Now we have seen how meditation can benefit us on many levels. It is
a practice where we are able to consciously direct our thoughts and
attention to the present moment. Full awareness allows us to release
both the past and the future. The end result is experiencing more of
life. We learn through this process just how much time we tend to
spend on "auto-pilot", and how much of our life experience is wasted
simply because we don`t stop to "smell the roses".

The benefits of meditation are also carried over into our daily
lives. We become naturally more aware of our thought processes,
which enables us to bring ourselves to full awareness. This aids in
concentration, helps us to stay emotionally balanced, and relieves
stress.

Meditation allows us those priceless moments dedicated to helping us
discover our true identity. We find a place that is all our own
where there are no outer forces working against us. Meditation
allows us to always have access to a private place of peace and
tranquility where we can literally restore ourselves body, mind, and
soul.

In the next part of the series I will cover some meditation
techniques which can be practiced and modified to suit ones
individual needs. There are various methods that can meet the needs
of anyone willing to devote a few minutes or more per day to their
total wellness.

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Christin Snyder is a spiritual advisor, writer, and motivational
speaker whose passion is helping others empower themselves to reach
their fullest potential. Visit her today for a variety of helpful
resources at http://www.dailypowerwords.com