4 Ways to Reap the Benefits of Meditation For Busy People
When I hear people say: “I can’t meditate.” I always say, “Yes, you can, you probably already do it and don’t even know it.” There are many ways to meditate.
The basic skill in meditation is just letting go and getting lost in the flow of the moment. Now if you want to get fancy and have a formal meditation practice, then it will require that you commit to a quite space daily or frequently for a certain amount of time.
If you are new to the concept of meditation, you can experiment with different methods. For example, many people get lost in the moment when they exercise, play sports, paint, dance, sing, write, read, or just sit still.
The inner chatter in their minds just stops, even if it is just for a minute or a few seconds. Then this feeling of bliss and peace sets in. Everybody experiences flow at least one time in their life. A committed practice of meditation helps you experience this flow in a more controlled setting on a regular basis.
Still, if you want to reap the benefits of meditation on a tight schedule, then experiment with some of these ideas:
- Smile. Yes, I mean it, just smile and let the body do the rest of the work. If you’d like to add a laugh in there too, go for it. Smiling releasing happy hormones in the body, which can have a calming effect.
- Breathe in inner peace and quiet. If you want to quite the mind’s inner chatter and be more productive, take a moment to inhale for five breaths, hold the breath for a moment, and then exhale for five breaths. Repeat this breathing pattern 10 times.
- Go for a walk in nature. Breathe in the fresh air while you count the leaves on the trees and listen to the birds as they chirp. Nature can be very calming, it can also give you a new perspective on your day and inner clarity.
- Discover your flow. Find an activity that allows you to get lost. Stay away from activities involving television, video games, or electronics. Instead, look for activities such as arts, music, exercise, dancing, writing, or any other creative outlet.
Final thoughts: It doesn’t take much to experience the benefits of mediation. Get out of your comfort zone and create more activities that increase your mindfulness. Eventually, your body will crave these activities and they will become healthy habits.
It doesn’t have to be perfect, there is no right or wrong way to meditate. Let me share some inspiring words from Wayne Dyer, the author of Your Erroneous Zones: Step-by-Step Advice for Escaping the Trap of Negative Thinking and Taking Control of Your Life.
When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.
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