Life is a journey filled with ups and downs, like many authors, artists, and philosophers have described. There is no way to avoid these trials and tribulations, as they are the pillars of life itself. There are, however, a number of things we can do in order to make life’s difficulties a little more tolerable. One of the greatest and most time-tested methods of dealing with the stress and anxiety we face through life is meditation.
This article includes a few simple, yet effective meditation techniques that can help you deal with your stress or anxiety.
Mindfulness
One of the most popular methods of meditation is mindfulness meditation. An easy way to practice mindfulness meditation is by focusing on your breath for a prolonged period of time.
You can start by counting your breaths. Over time you may lose count. When you lose count, try to refrain from getting frustrated. Gently direct your attention back to your breath in a non-judgemental and objective manner.
By focusing on your breath, you will notice that your thoughts will begin to slow down. They will never stop completely, but they will slow down enough for you to enter into a relaxed state.
Visualization
Meditations involving visualization are also very popular and effective. For instance, if you have been stressed and anxious lately, you can visualize the problem you are facing.
After creating an image of your problem, you can imagine yourself literally rising above it. Then you can imagine the problem slowly disappearing into the background, only to be replaced with success and serenity. You can do this whenever you find yourself stressed or anxious.
Body Scan
The body scan meditation is a very powerful tool to enter into a deep meditative state. You can do this meditation by lying flat on the floor and bringing your attention to several different points of your physical body.
In the practice of Yoga, this is the first part of Yoga Nidra. There are several different orders that you can follow. This method is often done as a guided meditation, but it can be done alone once you are used to it.
John Kaweske of Colorado Springs is a biodiesel fuel and technology expert. As President of Bio Clean Energy, S.A., he draws from 20 years of professional experience to offer valuable insight into the industry. When he isn’t working on clean energy efforts, he’s spending time with his family and practicing daily meditation.