Meditation

It has been raining for the past few days in Los Angeles.

I LOVE the rain.
It makes me feel like snuggling up near a fireplace with a wonderful book to read,
or a movie to watch....
spending time with people I care about rates highly on my rainy day list as well!
The rain for me also brings a sense of self reflection.
There is something about sitting still to listen to the sound
of the rain that slows my mind and my heart rate.
This feeling inspired me to take some time today to meditate.
I learned to meditate years ago, yet I often place that task on the back burner of my to do list.
I am finding recently that it needs to move to the front of my list.

Meditation is an interesting tool that we can use to stop or at least slow down the chatter in our minds. I read recently that during Meditation, our brain actually stops utilizing the area it relies on daily for communication as well as thought processing, then it actually begins to use other areas that we rarely tap into. Fascinating!

Meditation does not have to be a spiritual practice.
It can simply be a tool to help your mind slow down.
With regular practice it can help you navigate your days with more ease.
It works!

If you don't know how to Meditate you can try a simple practice of watching your breath for 5- 15 minutes. It will feel difficult, especially if your are someone who stays busy to avoid your feelings. If you can just push past the thoughts and feelings that bombard your mind for at least 5 minutes, you will see that your meditation will become easier and easier. Know that your mind will fill with many thoughts while you are trying to meditate. Just allow them to come in and go away with ease. Fighting them will create a struggle and not the sense of ease you are looking for.

I am certainly not an expert in the meditation world,
so here are a few links to more information.

http://www.oprah.com/health/Dr-Ozs-Anti-Aging-Checklist/14

http://health.discovery.com/centers/stress/articles/meditation/meditation.html