I use meditation from a psychological standpoint. Nothing more.
I’m interested in how the brain works during meditation, how to calm down, and reduce stress.
From my experience, I can note that during meditation, there’s:
- relaxation and calmness
- relaxation – the brain rests like after a deep sleep from all those thoughts and worries
- development of awareness in the form of controlling thoughts throughout the day
- relief from deep depression and stress
- a balanced reaction to everything happening – a calm attitude towards situations that could throw you off balance
- the emergence of creative ideas and energy to bring all your plans to life
- an improved mood
“Sit down, straighten your back, close your eyes, and slowly dive deep into yourself” – how many times have I heard these phrases, how many times have I tried to reach a state of “zen” yet nothing ever worked for me.
Forgive me, yogis, “mindful super humans” and “money mediators” but for me, meditation isn’t a template that will suddenly make me see the light, love myself, or become a millionaire. Spoiler: it’s not so much meditation that helps but rather the “expert’s” ability to sell you the idea of easy money or instant results.
For me, meditation is a state of pure mind and an inner dialogue with myself. It’s when you allow thoughts to come to you freely and slowly float by like clouds across a clear sky of consciousness.
I enter this state when I’m driving or sitting as a passenger on the highway, when I’m walking in the forest, or just wandering wherever my eyes lead me, under the snow and rain. In those moments, answers to various questions come to me. I feel something changing inside me, and I get to know myself better and better.
So, what’s the point of meditation?
Personally, I try to be mindful, control my thoughts to manage my life, and see life the way I want! Living in the present, right here, right now.
We often get distracted by conversations, socializing, watching movies, and rarely stop to think about what we’re feeling right now. Sensations, smells, thoughts.
I meditate to be here and now, to control my stream of thoughts for at least 15 minutes twice a day.
One of my friends experiences a similar state when she runs. Another one does when she cooks, a third when she cleans and washes dishes, and a fourth by the ocean or any large body of water.
How to properly enter a meditative state?
I can’t tell you that. Because I don’t do it the way they do in Tibet for all those religious reasons. I have my own technique that works because, above all, it’s about the brain’s work.
How do I manage to meditate? First method:
- I sit in a comfortable position, straighten my back, and close my eyes. I try not to think about anything, saying to myself inhale – exhale – inhale – exhale.
- Slowly, my breathing becomes calm, and my whole body relaxes.
- Thoughts occasionally pop up – just forget about them. Don’t get angry about it – it’s more than normal. At first, it can be very hard to concentrate, and your mind can feel uncontrollable – it’s all a matter of habit.
- I don’t even notice those thoughts anymore; previously, their volume distracted me from relaxing.
- You just need to focus on your breath – inhale and exhale – and observe your sensations.
- Next, based on how I feel, I picture my most desired dream, smile, and feel the emotions of it coming true. I’m thankful for this amazing moment, for the emotions, and for the relaxation.
- Then I open my eyes with a smile on my face, sometimes feeling chills or a tear rolling down my cheek.
The second method is simpler:
I use meditation videos from YouTube for variety and new experiences. There are many interesting techniques for every taste – for making wishes, calming down, attracting money, boosting self-confidence, etc.
What’s changed for me personally?
After months of practice, I can now sit like a butterfly in a split, but my heels aren’t together; they’re positioned however feels comfortable at that moment. The most important thing for me is my back. I try to keep it as straight as possible. At first, I struggled – my back hurt, and my legs swelled, but gradually I started adding another 3 minutes, and now I can calmly meditate for about 10-15 minutes or more.
I’ve started stopping myself and thinking about what I’m doing right now. What do I feel? What do I see, hear, etc.? I pay attention to things I hadn’t noticed before.
I feel calmer. I sense that my days have become more measured, and my reactions to negative situations have become calm.
My back has become more resilient (I previously had posture issues).
Your communication with yourself and understanding of your essence determine how happy you can be, regardless of external factors.
Think about the moments in your life when you’re doing something on autopilot, immersed in yourself, and losing track of time. Perhaps that’s the cherished door to your consciousness. Open it more often, and one day you’ll find what you’ve been looking for.
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