Do you want to achieve fulfilment, success and true hapiness?
What is it?
There are many things that can make you unhappy. A broken relationship, a failing business, money problems, not achieving what you want to achieve - the list goes on. Sometimes it feels like there's nothing we can do to change our situation and happiness seems very far away. However, we need to remember that happiness is within reach and happiness doesn't have a destination - it just takes time. By making mindfulness of changing your perspective a daily practice, even in small moments of our day-to-day routines, we give ourselves the chance to live more fulfilled lives - starting with today. Meditation is the first step towards a more fulfilling life!
What are the practical benefits?
Meditating takes you out of your daily rut, helps you to think clearly and increase your awareness. You will become more focused, less distracted and able to distinguish between what's important and what's not. Regular meditation will improve your self-esteem and help you to feel more optimistic about the future. It can also help you to find inner peace and live with greater ease - as it starts to take control of your mind, you'll start living by its rules. It is a holistic practice which will help you balance your life and find harmony in the chaos.
What are the psychological benefits?
Meditation isn't rocket science, it's an ancient practice which can be easily adapted to fit into modern lives. Daily meditation helps you to improve your concentration and focus, reduces stress levels and anxiety and helps boost positive emotions such as happiness, joy and contentment. It can also help you to experience less negative emotions such as anger, fear or frustration. If we remind ourselves that everything passes and accept life for what it is with clarity of mind - than anything is possible.
What is the best age to begin?
The most important part of meditation is finding a way to stick with it. It can be difficult, but if you start by meditating daily, it will become more and more enjoyable. The best age to begin is anytime - from as young as 4 or 5 years old and up! The older you are, the more you'll benefit from meditation - once you reach your mid-thirties, your life experience and wisdom will make meditation easier for you. There are many different meditation methods used in different countries and cultures - so there's something for everyone no matter what your beliefs or preferences are.
Where can I find a meditation teacher/mentor?
The people who come to mind when you think about meditation are monks and other religious figures - however, there are many types of meditation which aren't associated with religion at all. There are meditation teachers (also referred to as gurus) who have learnt from other teachers and have the ability to provide you with a private training program. You may come across a meditation teacher at a local monastery but if you prefer to meditate privately, there are many meditation teachers online who can help you to learn. Just search online for the name of your choice and you will be amazed by the huge selection you'll find.
How long does it take?
Meditation takes time - it's not something that can be achieved overnight or in a couple of sessions. You must immerse yourself in it over a period of time, slowly increase your daily practice and rely on your personal growth and experience. There's no 'quick fix' when it comes to meditation.
What should I do?
The best way to get started is to try guided meditations - there are so many free ones available on YouTube, so take a look and find one which you like. Try your best to practice every day, even if it's only for a few minutes at first. If you do give up, don't worry, the benefits of meditation are cumulative - it will have a huge overall impact on your life.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a practice that involves paying attention to and being aware of what's happening in your mind and body. It teaches us to live in the present moment, rather than worrying about things that happened in the past or thinking about things that may happen in the future.
In general, mindfulness is a very positive thing to incorporate into our daily lives. It can be used for many different purposes - whether it be for relaxation, stress reduction, achieving greater focus or simply for enjoying more satisfying experiences. It's an effective technique to enhance the quality of life, to increase happiness and to help you deal with difficulties with greater ease.
Mindfulness can also be used in order to gain greater self-awareness and develop more positive habits over time - by consciously engaging in mindfulness practices on a daily basis, it becomes a habit which can be carried over into your everyday life.
If you're interested in learning how to meditate and take your practice to the next level - but don't know where to start, then this article is for you!
Achieve greater self-awareness:
What is self-awareness? Generally speaking, people don't pay much attention to what they're doing or how they feel. Self-awareness is a state of being which encourages you to pay attention to these things, and this can help to improve the quality of your life.
By becoming more self-aware, we become more aware of ourselves and our moods. We make an effort to better understand how we feel, what's going on inside us and why we react the way we do. We learn how our bodies function at an unconscious level, which helps us understand the mechanics behind our feelings and thoughts - we become more aware of what's happening around us and in our body when something unusual happens.
It can be difficult to recognize when you're not paying attention to yourself - but it is possible - even for someone who isn't naturally 'mindful'. Becoming mindful requires only a small effort, but if you're not already used to being mindful then it can seem like too much at first. Paying attention to the small things in life can make a huge difference in your life, and you'll soon notice that it's impossible to become self-aware without making an effort.
How do I practice mindfulness?
There are many different techniques and exercises used to develop mindfulness. One of the most effective forms of meditation is called Headspace - this involves using your smartphone or computer desktop as an audio player so that you listen to guided meditations while working or doing other things around the house.
Conclusion
Meditation can be a very effective tool when used correctly. It's very important to get started and practice regularly - the more you practice, the easier it will be to achieve a state of deep concentration, and this is what you're aiming for. The best part about meditation is that you don't need any special tools or equipment in order to achieve results - all that's required is for you to direct your focus towards an object such as your breathing and then let everything else go.
Mindfulness exercises are also useful because they help us to become more mindful.