| Reduced levels of stress and peace of mind can | | | | pay attention to the sensation in your nostrils and |
| be achieved successfully with meditation. Most | | | | feel your breath travel deep down into your |
| people have so many thoughts running through | | | | lower abdomen and back up and out again. By |
| their mind on a daily basis that cause them stress | | | | focusing on your breathing regularly even when |
| including family, work and money related issues. If | | | | you are not actively meditating, you will begin to |
| this is you, then you will benefit from a few | | | | feel more relaxed. |
| minutes of quieting your mind each day. You can | | | | You can also try another focusing technique which |
| achieve both peace of mind and better health | | | | requires you to stare at a fire or a candle flame. |
| with a regular meditation practice even in only for | | | | Simply concentrate on the flicker of the flames. |
| a few minutes a day. | | | | This gives your mind something to do so that it |
| With so many demands on your time, it may be | | | | won't jump around from thought to thought so |
| hard to even imagine spending 30-60 minutes a | | | | much. |
| day practicing meditation but if you can take it | | | | Or, you may want to try a mantra for the |
| once step at a time and commit to just 10 | | | | purpose of focusing your mind. You simply repeat |
| minutes per day to start, you will begin to notice | | | | your chosen word silently to yourself while in |
| some remarkable benefits even with this short | | | | meditation and you can also visualize the word |
| time commitment. Self care is essential in helping | | | | before you if you like. |
| you to maintain your energy and your health for | | | | Don't become frustrated if you notice your mind |
| all of your other daily activities and meditation is | | | | wandering, simply return your focus to your |
| suitable for anyone. | | | | breathing. Remember that anything worthwhile |
| Meditation is not a simple practice. Your mind is | | | | doing takes practice to become good at it. That's |
| always jumping around from one thought to | | | | why they call it a "practice". You won't master it |
| another and many of your thoughts can be | | | | in a day. Keep practicing, if only for 10 minutes |
| repetitive from hour to hour or minute to minute. | | | | per day without worrying about trying to be |
| Once you begin practicing meditation, you will | | | | marathon meditator and you'll soon be enjoying |
| notice this. Begin meditating by following the flow | | | | the stress relief benefits of meditation. |
| of your breath. As you inhale through your nose, | | | | |