If you’re like me, you probably have a lot of misconceptions about what meditation is. To some, it can seem like Eastern philosophical voodoo witch magic (to borrow a phrase from Chaplain Bridgham), often described as a panacea for everything from headaches to heart disease. But we do have evidence that meditation can be helpful for people with anxiety, insomnia, and depression…so allow me to blow your mind: a couple of decades ago, neurologists observed Tibetan monks and Franciscan nuns during prayer and meditation inside a SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) machine. They discovered that when these individuals reached their deepest state of peace, the areas of the brain associated with language and self /space orientation became completely nonfunctional. In other words, the meditators were able to eliminate their “brain chatter” while at the same time losing their sense of position in the space around them. Dr. Jill Taylor described it perfectly: “my consciousness shifted away from feeling solid, to a perception of myself as fluid—at one with the universe.”
Thus, meditation is less about the body and more about the mind—specifically, finding a mental state where you can just “be,” calming the incessant activity of our ever-restless mental processes. In short, it is a state of thought-less awareness. This freedom and peace of mind, which can last for hours even after you stop meditating, can be achieved with practice; however, it can be difficult for beginners, so I suggest giving it a few tries before dismissing it completely:
- Set aside 10-15 minutes each day. Start with intentionality, by blocking time for meditation into your daily schedule; I suggest early in the morning and/or late at night before bed.
- Find your peaceful place. This is different from your “happy place.” Find a spot where you feel most at peace, and where there won’t be too many distractions. Let your significant other and/or kids know you should not be interrupted for your designated period of time, if possible.
- Get comfortable. Sit (or lie down) comfortably, release any muscular tension throughout your body, and lightly close your eyes. Focus on your breathing, and begin to slow it down steadily, feeling your bodily sensations adjust as you leisurely breathe in and out.
- Turn your attention to…nothing. It’s normal for your mind to wander; don’t worry about it. If you notice you start to have an aberrant thought, transform it in your mind into a cloud, and let the breeze blow it away; then return your focus to your breathing patterns, and then again to nothing. For beginners, it may be easiest to concentrate only on your breath the first few times.