Occupy Sanity Tool (OST): Meditation
Wait just a minute…or two before you click away from here with visions of sitting cross-legged for endless hours following your breathing, searching for the elusive inner peace.
That is one form of meditation.
Just a quick internet search of the word meditation will yield 337,000 responses.
You might be surprised to know, however, that we can and do meditate all day long.
To meditate is often only seen as:
- …focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.
However, the next line in that definition is:
- …think deeply about (something).
And when we review the synonyms:
- …contemplate, think about, consider, ponder, cogitate, muse;
- …plan mentally; consider.
As Jon Kabat-Zinn notes “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.”
From the perspective of ‘…focus one’s mind for a period of time…’ and ‘think deeply about something.’, I had a look at how I spent my time each day off my meditation cushion. Here’s what I found:
When I ‘paid attention on purpose’ while mowing the lawn, trimming the hedges, listening to music, reading a book, writing this article, driving, petting my cat, sweeping the porch, paying my bills, etc. I realized that without even knowing it, I was meditating. Effortlessly. Even with a little bit of mindfulness, I realized that I felt more focused, grounded and…one of my inner peace indicators: satisfied.
Just consider your favorite hobbies. For example, take note of what happens when you read a book, watch a film, or take a picture without concentrated attention. I suspect you’ll find the experience less enriching than if you do the activity with mindfulness. To further support this view, you can find the experiences of others who benefit from meditation in the article “47 People Comment On The Benefits Meditation Has Brought Them” by Katie Holmes, Data scientist & chief editor for OutwitTrade.
Now, I believe in that sitting cross-legged on a cushion type of meditation practice and I’ll be happy to guide you to find one that is right for you.
For now, experiment with this OST throughout your day and let us know how it goes for you.
Excellent! This is my experience with meditation as a daily practice.
Thank you very much my dear friend Conchetta. Bright Blessings and love to you. Namaste.
Sometimes just a simple shift in focus can bring so much benefit. Thanks for sharing and sending along love & blessings. Namaste my dear Lady Isis.