Meditation
There are numerous medical benefits associated with meditation. At the same time it can be an important pathway to achievement, for self, others, and communities. According to Dr. James R. Doty, MD, author of Into the Magic Shop, a meaningful and fulfilling meditation practice involves four steps:
1. Think of your intention. It might be just to relax, unwind and heal, or it might be to help others, or it might be a larger goal for yourself. Put that intention at the front of your mind to start.
2. Relax your body. Start at your toes and slowly untense all the way up to your scalp. Envision your heart muscle relaxing, beating slowly and pumping efficiently. The heart, brain and body are solidly connected and communicating.
3. Gain control of your mind. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t mean that no thoughts are allowed. But when distracting thoughts arise, embrace them briefly and let them go.
4. Allow your heart to open. Think on someone who loves you and/or you love unconditionally and fill your heart with that feeling. If you want to, shift your focus on someone for whom the relationship is more complex, and concentrate compassion and empathy on them.
Towards the end of your session, give yourself some uninterrupted time to transition back into normal life, recalling your original intention but otherwise undistracted from thought. Hopefully you achieve your goal, or if it’s a larger goal some more of the puzzle pieces fall into place. But don’t expect to be great at it immediately. Like anything, it takes a lot of practice to get good at meditating.
Here endeth the lesson on meditation.
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