| Today we live in a fast-paced world. Things | | | | challenging when done for the first time. |
| happen so quickly that more often that not, we | | | | Then there’s the method for increasing a |
| do not have the chance to react to the things | | | | person’s awareness. Just like the |
| thrown atus. We somehow lose the ability to think | | | | concentration technique mentioned above, it |
| things over in favor of lightning-quick decisions. | | | | involves putting one’sattention to his/her |
| But it shouldn’t be so. Every one of us needs | | | | breathing. |
| to slow down a little from time to time and be | | | | But instead of focusing on the act of inhaling and |
| calm. Otherwise, stress will build up and will affect | | | | exhaling air, it is the sensation of breathing where |
| howwe deal with the people around us, not only in | | | | the person trains his/her thoughts. The feelingof |
| the workplace but also at home. | | | | the air passing through the nose, filling the lungs |
| The practice of meditation is a way for us to be | | | | and expanding the diaphragm is the sensation that |
| still for a while and let our minds become focused | | | | a person should look for. |
| until we become calm enough to deal with thedaily | | | | It helps him/her feel how it is to be truly alive. |
| pressures of life. | | | | This article has shown how important breathing is |
| Some may think that meditation is a completely | | | | in the practice of meditation. It is no wonder, |
| religious practice. While it is true that a lot of | | | | therefore, that the two are inseparable |
| religions, especially Eastern ones, take | | | | activitiesthat a student of meditation should learn. |
| meditationas an integral part of their practice, it is | | | | Meditation and Dealing with Fear and Phobia |
| not necessarily the case. In fact, more and more | | | | Every person has a phobia of certain things, be it |
| people who aren’t necessarily religious get | | | | of heights or speaking in front of people. While |
| intomeditation. | | | | most people overcome their fears, some |
| People practice meditation for a variety of | | | | arecrippled by it. This therefore prevents them |
| reasons. While we already mentioned that it helps | | | | from doing things that they would otherwise find |
| us become still in this fast-paced world, | | | | enjoyable. |
| otherpeople meditate for health reasons and to | | | | Meditation is one way for people trapped by their |
| attain a higher state of consciousness, among | | | | phobias to finally get out of their shell and start |
| others. | | | | living the full life. |
| So if you think that life is stressing you out, | | | | A definition of fear is that it is the anxiety caused |
| it’s probably time for you to slow things | | | | by a perceived danger. It is the state of mind by |
| down a little bit. Your mind is probably too | | | | which a person foresees something |
| distracted with somany things to consider and to | | | | wronghappening either to him/her or the people |
| think about. Meditation can help you calm down | | | | around him/her. |
| and let you be stress and worry-free. | | | | Meditation helps in overcoming a person’s |
| Meditation to Improve Concentration | | | | fear by altering his/her state of mind. There are |
| Today, there are a lot of things that help in | | | | several ways by which this practice can help |
| keeping us entertained. In the internet alone, there | | | | peopleachieve this. |
| are a multitude of websites that do such that | | | | One such way is called mindfulness meditation. By |
| likevideo sharing sites, gaming sites and other | | | | training the person to live in the now, his/her |
| websites which cater to our interests. | | | | attention is veered away from the future |
| While there is nothing wrong with entertaining | | | | wherethat person perceives the danger. Besides, |
| ourselves, a problem arises with our constant | | | | it is only a mere perception and such event may |
| need for distractions. Because of that, it | | | | or may not actually happen. |
| becomesdifficult for us to focus on one thing. | | | | Visualization can also help a person cope with fear |
| We do not need to take extreme measures to | | | | by making the person imagine what he/she will do |
| help us focus. There are practices which can do | | | | in case the perceived danger comes. Bybeing |
| the job for us. It includes the practice of | | | | mentally prepared for such an event, the person |
| meditation. | | | | will be able to deal with the future situation better. |
| People take up meditation for different purposes | | | | Again, fear is a mere state of mind. Facing it, |
| and improving concentration is one of them. | | | | therefore, needs some alteration in the |
| There are several methods by which | | | | person’s perception of what may or may not |
| meditationdoes its job. | | | | happen. It canbe achieved by the practice of |
| One is through breathing exercises. Even an | | | | meditation. |
| exercise that is as simple as being aware of the | | | | Meditation and Pain |
| times we inhale and exhale can do wonders to | | | | Anyone who has heard of the expression about |
| ourability to concentrate. | | | | the power of mind over matter will easily |
| While it may sound easy, it can be quite difficult | | | | understand the benefit of meditation on people |
| especially if one has to deal with distractions such | | | | sufferingfrom different forms of physical pain. |
| as outside noise. | | | | This article will deal with several methods by |
| Another method is by reciting a mantra. A | | | | which meditation can help in alleviating a |
| mantra is a phrase or a sound that is recited | | | | person’s condition. |
| repeatedly. For Catholics, praying the rosary is a | | | | Concentration techniques in meditation can help in |
| form ofa mantra. | | | | easing a person’s suffering by keeping his/her |
| The repetition becomes the center of the | | | | mind away from the source of the pain. |
| meditation to which the person’s attention | | | | Usually, the pain is magnified because people |
| becomes focused. | | | | choose to focus on it. |
| There are other more methods by which | | | | If their attention is trained somewhere else, the |
| meditation can help improve concentration. | | | | pain becomes more manageable. |
| However, the two mentioned above are the | | | | Another method is called mindfulness meditation. |
| most basic andcould help beginners start out with | | | | This involves being aware of one’s present |
| the practice. | | | | condition and accepting it as such. If a |
| Breathing and Meditation | | | | personaccepts that he/she is currently in pain, |
| Breathing is an integral part of meditation. Proper | | | | dealing with it would be much easier. |
| breathing is required in many practices of | | | | Then there’s visualization. It could be |
| meditation and is therefore an important tool to | | | | considered as a form of self-hypnosis. It is done |
| bepossessed by people who wish to perform this | | | | by creating an image of the pain and imagining it |
| activity. | | | | movingaway from the body. |
| The practice of proper breathing while meditating | | | | As suggested by these methods, they do not |
| helps a person relax while doing the exercise. | | | | actually take away pain from the person. Rather, |
| Proper breathing is achieved by inhaling throughthe | | | | they make dealing with the pain much easier. |
| nose, letting the diaphragm (not the chest) | | | | This is also the reason why methods like those |
| expand and exhaling through the mouth. | | | | mentioned should be coupled with the proper |
| Doing this slows down a person’s heart rate | | | | medical advice. In fact, consulting one’s doctor |
| which leads to a relaxed mood. | | | | isadvised before even trying the meditation |
| Breathing also plays a significant role when a | | | | exercises out. |
| person aims to improve his/her concentration. | | | | Otherwise, there will be a risk of overlooking |
| This is done by focusing the mind on the act | | | | more serious conditions that could be causing the |
| oftaking in air and feeling it pass through the | | | | pain. Along with the proper medical |
| nostrils until the air is finally exhaled through the | | | | advice,meditation can help improve a person’s |
| mouth. | | | | tolerance for pain. |
| While this may sound easy, it can be quite | | | | |