Understanding Meditation, An Anchor From Storms

The image of meditation is one who sits cross legged, perfect posture, with an air of utter peace.

This is a misleading image of meditaiton.

This image of meditation places on unrealistic expectation on achieving it. Meditation is not the absence of thought. It is not perfectly peaceful thought. It does not require a calm state or environment. Peace and calm are certainly products of meditation. However, they are not the path to meditation.

"So what is meditation guru Quinn?" -Anonymous Critic

I am no guru. I am a student of meditation. This post is to address the common misconception of meditation. A misconception that is an obstacle for many.

"Then what is meditation?" -Anonymous Critic

Meditation is keeping your mind in the present moment.

Fortunately we have many anchors to the moment, finding these anchors and using them will quickly give you the benefit of meditation.

"What are these benefits? Do I achieve inner peace? Or perhaps I transcend into pure energy?" - Anonymous Critic

Maybe you will get those things, like I said, I am still a student. What I know you can get is clarity. You can pull yourself back from the buffeting storms of stress and illness. You can clear your mind and act rationally without the taint of illness.

The strongest anchor is your body. Your body is always giving you feedback. We have all developed a habit of ignoring this input. If we focus on sources of feedback then we are able to anchor to the moment.

Our bodies are truly of the moment.

Every sense from your body is that of the present. Your hands don't experience tomorrow, they don't feel things from yesterday. Likewise your ears do not hear the words of the past or the worries of the future. All of your senses are in the present. It is our mind that dwells on the frustrations of the past or the fears of the future.

To meditate you simply choose a sense of your body and you focus on that. You think of that and nothing else. Your mind will slip away to the future or past. Do not get angry, simply bring it back to your anchor. Do this continually. Accept that your mind will drift away, calmly bring it back.

Meditation can be an invaluable reactive tool for stressful situations. As I explained it can help you exit downward spirals of thought. Practicing and understanding what meditative practices work for your will give you a tool that can be used in dire situations.

The other power of meditation is incorporating it into your daily life. Making it a routine. A preventative measure against illness. Setting up a daily habit of meditation can be powerful. I have found morning time meditation, shortly after waking up, to be very effective. I start my day with a calm mindset, I handle stress better that day.

Every experience in life is an opportunity for meditation. If you are eating. Meditate on it. As you take a bite do so thinking of the food's texture, flavor, and the sensations you receive from it. If you are walking meditate on the movement of your steps. Of the feeling throughout your feet and legs.

Meditation can also be a part of your work life. As you work or interact be in that moment. As you shift from task to task each day be present to that task. If you drift away from it, calmly pull yourself back. When you converse with someone. Be there, experience the conversation. Do not think of what you will do or say next. Your mind will naturally wander, anchoring yourself will free you from worry.

If you are afraid of meditation​ it will not work. If you get frustrated by your mind wandering it will not work, that is normal and will reduce with practice. Understand what meditation is, being in the moment, and then practice it. Find what works for you.

----------

Check out my journey from schizophrenia to health and the practices that have given me my life back.