Built to Meditate

When is the last time you sat quietly in thought, perhaps noticing how the air feels around you or hearing the sounds at that moment?   My wife will say she had a few minutes while being stuck in traffic to slow her mind and ponder the universe.  (That is much better to do than to get agitated with the traffic situation!)

That isn't quite what I have in mind, however.  I am leaning more toward the topic of meditation.  Most feel that meditation isn't necessary to stay alive so they will meditate sporadically or not at all.  We were built to meditate.  Our minds operate better when we spend time in meditation.

Meditation can be defined many ways.  Most define it as closing off the outside distractions and focusing on one thing.  I like the definition in "Psychology Today", which is:  "Meditation is the practice of turning your attention to a single point of reference. It can involve focusing on the breath, on bodily sensations, or on a word or phrase known as a mantra. In other words, meditation means turning your attention away from distracting thoughts and focusing on the present moment. Meditating is deceptively simple."

Take ten minutes during the day each  day to meditate and be aware of how your mind responds over a period of weeks.  It can be done while sitting, sitting in a stretching position (such as the 'Lotus' meditation pose used in Yoga), or meditate as part of prayer, reciting a verse, or focusing on a goal/seeing yourself at that goal.  You may be pleasantly surprised with the benefits!