| When was the last time you got upset about | | | | preparation for confrontation or escape. This |
| something? If you're like most people, you can | | | | phenomenon is called the "fight of flight" response. |
| count off in hours-maybe minutes-instead of days. | | | | It served us well back when we had legitimate |
| Life seems to be filled with stressful moments, | | | | predators to fear. It doesn't serve us as well |
| from navigating your way through rush hour | | | | today when we're stuck in the middle of a traffic |
| traffic to working alongside impatient colleagues to | | | | jam. There is no real predator, and yet your brain |
| managing children that selectively choose to no | | | | responds as if there is a physical threat. You've |
| longer understand the language you're speaking. | | | | probably witnessed an example of "road rage" or |
| Stress and tension are a part of life. | | | | struggled to control the impulse in yourself to |
| Paying attention to your well-being is essential to a | | | | become confrontational and aggressive or to find |
| healthy, balanced and fulfilling life. If you're like | | | | a way to escape the situation. |
| most people, you don't take care of yourself, and | | | | It only takes a couple of minutes a day of deep |
| that means you can't do a good job of taking | | | | breathing (inhaling for 4 seconds, holding the |
| care of your loved ones. Well-being isn't about | | | | breath for 2 seconds and exhaling for 4 seconds) |
| eliminating stress from your life. It's about learning | | | | to reap the benefits of learning to calm yourself |
| ways to help you manage the stress in your life. | | | | during stressful times. Deep breathing calms your |
| One of the best gifts you can give yourself is to | | | | racing heart and encourages normal blood flow |
| find and practice ways to soothe your mind, | | | | back to the brain, fueling your ability to be rational, |
| body, heart and spirit. Meditation is an age-old, | | | | logical and make better decisions. |
| effective way to do just that. Many people hear | | | | There is a variety of meditation methods |
| the word "meditation" and immediately picture | | | | accessible to you for practicing. The short- and |
| themselves sitting cross-legged in a vast field of | | | | long-term benefits have been studied and |
| flowers or on an isolated beach contemplating the | | | | confirmed by psychology and medical experts for |
| universe. That is one way to do, but for most | | | | years. Passive meditation is generally done while |
| people with busy lives and hectic schedules, that | | | | sitting down, focusing your thoughts on one thing |
| image feels like an impossible dream. It | | | | to calm your hyperactive brain. Active meditation |
| discourages people from taking advantage of this | | | | includes activities like yoga and T'ai Chi where |
| proven method for learning how to calm yourself | | | | your body performs slow, repetitive motions |
| during tension-filled moments and taking control of | | | | while you focus on breathing and calming your |
| how you respond to stress. | | | | thoughts. Mindful meditations often combine |
| Meditation is a process for you to gain awareness | | | | specific goals you can focus on like envisioning |
| of your present moment-a respite from the | | | | your ideal future, developing your self-awareness |
| dozens of thoughts racing through your mind, the | | | | or strengthening your positive outlook on life. You |
| turbulent emotions trying to rise up, and the | | | | can learn more about these types of meditation |
| physical tension that leaves you feeling stiff and | | | | on various websites. |
| uncomfortable all day long. You can learn to | | | | You have tons of activities to choose from and |
| meditate whether you have a few minutes, ten | | | | are bound to find what fits your life and your |
| or a half hour to spare every day. | | | | lifestyle. Go online and you'll find hundreds of |
| Humans are emotional beings. Your brain is wired | | | | resources available to you. Choose one or more |
| to trigger your feelings before your logical, thinking | | | | meditation activities that work for you and make |
| self can catch up. When you respond emotionally | | | | the time to practice daily. The greatest benefit is |
| to any tense situation, you're less likely to make | | | | making meditation an unconscious habit-the normal |
| sound decisions or have the presence of mind to | | | | way you respond to stress. Over time, you may |
| listen and understand the message someone else | | | | find that your body, heart and mind crave that |
| is trying to convey to you. | | | | break in the day from all the hustle and bustle of |
| Through the practice of meditation, you can teach | | | | life. |
| your body and emotions to synch faster with | | | | Disruptive emotions like fear, anxiety, insecurity |
| your rational thoughts. If you practice daily, the | | | | and envy will not control your actions when you |
| ability to manage stress will become an | | | | take steps to manage your response to |
| unconscious act-something you won't even have | | | | tension-filled situations. Give yourself the gift of |
| to think about to engage self-soothing and | | | | well-being. Invest time and effort in living a |
| encourage rational thought. | | | | balanced, healthy life. Adopt a meditation practice |
| Deep breathing is one of the simplest types of | | | | that helps you manage your life's stress so you |
| meditation. When you're feeling threatened, blood | | | | can give your full attention and love to the people |
| is directed to your heart, lungs and muscles in | | | | you care about. |