Meditating under Tree

Have you felt extremely frazzled lately? Have you told yourself, “This HAS TO stop!”

What happened?

Did you notice that your frustrated exclamation in and of itself did nothing? That’s right! After being that exasperatingly clear with yourself, still nothing changed!

Why do you think that is?

In order for something to change, you have to DO something!  In order for change to occur, you have to act in exactly those specific ways aimed at creating the change! If you do not act in these proactive directions, you just keep creating more of the same!  In other words, what had been going on in the past just continues!

On the other hand, when you ACT, something entirely different occurs.  When you act, you begin to direct yourself in more peaceful directions and stop the stress! How does that sound to you?

So, how might you do this? you ask.

Mindfulness Meditation is one of the most powerful actions to relieve stress and build peace.  Meditation allows the body to relax.  It encourages the state of mindfulness. Mindfulness Meditation helps you to learn to focus intently with an attitude that is singularly nonreactive and nonjudgmental.

When you are engaged in Mindfulness Meditation, you notice what is going on inside you and around you without judging or reacting to it. In addition, you pay attention to focus on the flow of your breath — deeply and slowly, in and out of your body.

Research has proven that Mindfulness Meditation creates lasting improvements in the brain.  This occurs as a result of the Meditation creating actual changes in the brain structure. Using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), researchers have studied the brains of people who practiced Mindfulness Meditation. These researchers found that there was growth in the areas of the brain responsible for memory, mood regulation, regulation of bodily functions and flexibility.

Frequent, consistent meditators report that meditation helps them to respond to previously-upsetting events more peacefully and experience the world more clearly.  This can be attributed to the physical brain-changes  that result from Mindfulness Meditation!

Is it time for you to start the habit of Mindfulness Meditation?

Could you commit today?

If not, what more do you need to convince you to be ready? 

The following are Eight Keys to Manage Stress in your life.  Using these keys in your life will unlock your inner doors to more peace, relaxation, and longevity for you–

1.  LEARN TO RELAX:   While this may sound almost too simple for  belief, go ahead and give it careful practice.  Relaxation benefits not only your physical condition, but your mental and emotional states as well.  Experiment to discover the ways of relaxation that work best for you.

2.  BREATHE DEEPLY & RHYTHMICALLY:  Breathing … now how tough is that?  You may find it surprising that many people do not breathe in a relaxing, stress-reducing way.  Stress-reduction breathing is deep and regular, with the inhale and exhale approximately the same length.  Often people breathe shallowly, or unevenly, or they hold their breath.  If you start to pay attention to others’ breathing patterns, you can easily see this.  If you start to pay attention to YOUR OWN breathing patterns, you can easily become aware of this, too.  Breath draws in vital oxygen, which is required by each cell to stay strong and healthy.  It strengthens your physical, mental and emotion energy.  It allows you to “let go” of tension and pressure.  Your breathing is a physiological function that is with you each and every moment … and breathing deeply, in an unstressed fashion, costs you nothing — it is free!

3.  FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE:  When a situation occurs, concentrate on all of the positive interpretations Read the rest of this entry »