We live in a society where stress has become a daily struggle. One of the most stressful factors of our life is the quick and demanding lifestyle we are meant to undertake. More advanced, one of the highest stress causing elements is our relationships in the workplace. We all have a story about a workmate who has given us a hard time at work or a very demanding work project and a strict boss. Not controlling your stress level can lead to many mental and physical challenges. Stress makes people act on their worst behaviour and contributes to the creation of unhealthy habits like smoking. What if there is a simple everyday routine that you can follow that will enable you to control your stress levels and live a more peaceful and enjoyable life?
What is meditation?
Meditation is a practice that focuses on techniques regarding mindfulness where attention is driven towards breathing, and the mind is focused on the presence. During meditation, you get to rid yourself of thoughts that make you sad, sad, angry or stressed. This practice started in ancient times and has been practised by many religions and civilizations, like the ancient Greeks and Egyptians.
How do you meditate?
There are many different types of meditation, but if you want a basic understanding of the structure of this practice, there are a few basic steps to follow. First, sit comfortably in a quiet place or with relaxing music. Close your eyes, focus on breathing, and keep your spine straight. Place your hands on your knees with palms facing upwards. Then observe your thoughts and feelings as they come and go. Imagine that all the thoughts that stress you disappear and create new thoughts full of light and happiness. Image of the best scenarios. Think of a memory that makes you happy or a memory that you want to create in the future. Focus on the emotions that these thoughts bring you.
It has been shown that taking this practice for 5 to 30 minutes daily can improve your stress levels and help you start your day positively and be more productive. Practising meditation methods will help your gain power in gaining new perspectives on stressful situations in your everyday life and help you deal with them peacefully. It will also help you improve your tolerance and reduce your negative thoughts. Likewise, it will help you be more grateful about life and make you understand how important the present is, how irrelevant what happened in the past is, and how we are in control of our future.
If meditation has so many benefits, why doesn't everyone do it?
Meditating requires spending time with yourself at your most vulnerable state when all emotions and thoughts are released. Some people get scared by the thought of letting go of as bad habits are glued in their everyday life. Being self-aware means recognising your flaws and understanding that you must put in work and effort to develop. Therefore, consider yourself aware when you trust your power and intuition, and let yourself be honest and vulnerable to help you change your inner self and build resistance towards external challenges.