Meditation is a powerful tool that has been used for thousands of years to promote inner peace, reduce stress, and cultivate a state of mind that is peaceful, focused, and free from distraction. Generally, in all of these cultures, meditation is part of the religious practice of the shaman, priest, or medicine man, and sometimes it is taught to all members of the community, often in the form of “prayer.”  However, at the heart of all forms of meditation lies the goal of achieving a mind characterized by clarity, calmness, and presence.

Traditionally, meditation involves sitting quietly while focusing on an object, a sound, or the breath, for instance. Dr. Miller has developed ways to augment the meditative experience with the soothing guidance of his voice, enabling more rapid entry into a deeper meditative state. When the doorway to the subconscious has been opened, we can travel through time and space to decondition past patterns and create new behaviors and beliefs. This “guided meditation” is at the essence of his self-healing approach.

The meditative state of mind is almost a pre-requisite for achieving spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being, and it profoundly impacts our overall health and happiness. A meditative state is often achieved simply through mindfulness, a practice in which we are free of thoughts, feelings, and sensations that trigger anxiety and confusion and instead focus our attention on the absolute peace of the present moment. Mindfulness is characterized by a deep sense of serenity and contentment, a feeling of connectedness with the world around us, and a heightened sense of awareness and clarity.

Another popular form of meditation is loving-kindness meditation. This practice involves cultivating feelings of compassion and kindness towards ourselves and others. By focusing our attention on feelings of love and kindness, we are able to shift our focus away from negative emotions and cultivate a greater sense of connection and well-being.

No matter what type of meditation practice we choose, the benefits of achieving a state of mind characterized by presence, clarity, and calmness are clear. By cultivating a regular meditation practice, we can experience greater spiritual connection, improved physical and mental health, and a greater sense of happiness and contentment in our daily lives.

Meditation has lately achieved a measure of mainstream popularity because of its remarkable physical and emotional benefits. It has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality, boost the immune system, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Regular meditation practice has also been demonstrated by fMRI studies to increase gray matter in the brain in areas associated with memory, attention, and emotional regulation.

Emotionally, the meditative state can help us develop greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence. It can help us better understand our thoughts, feelings, and reactions and give us greater control over them. We are less likely to be overwhelmed by difficult emotions or external circumstances and more able to experience inner peace and joy regardless of those circumstances. Through meditation, we discover how to navigate the ups and downs of life with equanimity and grace.

Nearly all religions include some form of meditation among their sacred practices. Religious practitioners find this state of mind important spiritually because they believe it allows a deeper connection with our deepest selves and the ability to tap into the infinite wisdom and guidance within and all around us. Quieting the mind and cultivating inner stillness enables us to access a higher level of consciousness and expand our awareness beyond the limitations of our physical bodies.

Perhaps most importantly, the meditative state is essential for our overall happiness and well-being. When we are in this state of mind, we can let go of the worries and stresses of daily life and focus on what is truly important. We can connect with our inner selves and find meaning and purpose in our lives. We can cultivate a deep sense of gratitude for all of the blessings in our lives and develop a more positive and optimistic outlook.

How to Meditate

Here is a simple meditation exercise for learning how to meditate. By practicing the simple meditation technique described below, you can gradually learn to clear your mind and become more centered.  It consists of two parts:

First you will focus on the flowing nature of unlabored, easy breathing,
Second, enjoy a simple technique for clearing your mind.

1.  Flow of Breath Technique
When learning how to meditate, first choose a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for ten minutes or more, and be seated in a comfortable position. You may choose to sit in the traditional cross-legged posture but this is not necessary in order to gain the benefits of meditation. Allow your eyes to relax closed, or leave them open just a tiny slit, and focus your attention on your breathing.

Breathe naturally through your nostrils. Avoid trying to control the breath and focus your awareness on the sensation of the breath as it enters the body – the cool feeling in your nostrils, and the warmth as it leaves. Feel the rising and falling of your chest and abdomen, and let a steady rhythm of your breathing in and out be the object of this meditation. Concentrate on your breathing, especially the exhalation, to the exclusion of everything else.

 

2.  Mind Clearing
You may discover your mind will be very busy with mind-chatter. At first it may seem meditating is making your mind even busier. This is an illusion; you are simply becoming more aware of how busy your mind is, ALL THE TIME.

Continue your focus on your breathing. Ignore random thoughts that may tend to clutter your mind. Let them slip away; focus on your breathing. You might imagine that the thoughts leave your mind with each exhalation.

 

Benefits of Meditation

Practice this for 10-20 minutes once or twice a day. You will soon notice your mind feeling clearer, not only right after you sit, but throughout the day. You may or may not notice the benefits of meditation immediately. These methods of meditation require attention – and practice. Don’t expect that you will eliminate all the mind chatter on your first or second try.  Stick with this process as a daily practice and you will soon be able to evaluate it’s effects.

Though meditation may seem frustrating or a bit tiring at first, after daily practice and patience, you will find the distracting thoughts subside and eventually yield to a deep sense of restful alertness and deep relaxation. You will feel refreshed and think more clearly at the end of your meditation exercise. Similarly, as you quiet your distracting thoughts through your focus on your breath, you achieve the clarity that you so desperately crave.

 

Follow through

Stay with this Breath and Mind Clearing meditation exercise for a while. You will rapidly feel positive physical and emotional results with daily meditation. Allow yourself the time to enjoy this Breath and Mind Clearing meditation technique and notice a decrease in stress and the open feeling that comes to your relaxed mind.