The Everyday Power Of Meditation

There is something powerful about taking 30 minutes out of each day just to sit and think about absolutely nothing. I call this my moment of peace. I do it everyday, sometimes twice a day if I can find the time. I tend to do it either in the morning or around lunch time. If you think about how overactive our brains are it’s no wonder we drive ourselves into depression and stress overload. There is nothing like making a commitment to yourself for a “moment of silence” each day that can truly assist with this.

When I say silence that is exactly what I mean. I don’t mean go into a dark room and quietly think through all that you have to accomplish for the day. I mean, close your eyes, take a deep breath, feel the sun on your skin (if you can go outside) and just relax. I tend to enjoy doing this on a warm summer day on my balcony. I make a cup of tea, go out on my hammock and just let my mind take a brief moment to itself.

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Recent studies done at Wake Forest University show how powerful of a “drug” meditation and moments of silence are. Their research showed that consistent meditation reduced emotional pain by 44% and physical pain by 27%. On the flip side, pain being treated by morphine was only reduced by 22%.

There is something to this meditation thing.

While there are some folks who believe that medicine is the only way to address physical and mental illness, there are some who feel there are natural, healthier ways to cope. I believe this is circumstantial, and that a commitment to meditation can help you through your day-to-day stressors.

I actually think I got this practice from my mother now that I think about it. Every day I remember after we would get home from work and school, she would go to her room and tell my brother and I unless the house was on fire to leave her to herself for 30 minutes. I never knew what she was doing or why, but now that I am an adult I completely get it.

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Sometimes you have to give yourself a moment to rest, shutdown and reboot. Sleep does a good job of this, but I find that meditation gives you a different sense of stress relief.

According to a UCLA study, meditation “helps relieve our subjective levels of anxiety and depression, and improve attention, concentration, and overall psychological well-being.” So why not try out! You’ve got nothing to lose, but a few moments of peace and quiet to yourself. I couldn’t ask for a better gift right about now!