Many seek to escape a world that has become chaotic and stressful, and they do so by physical means that include temporarily vacationing on a tropical island or moving permanently to a secluded cabin in the mountains. But when those conditions exist inside, in the mind and emotions, there is an easier and more immediate method, through meditation.
A deep state of introspection and contemplation, meditation is the temporary separation of the soul from its form, allowing it to rise above thoughts, reactions, and even pain to create a feeling of oneness with the universe.
“If I can keep the wheels from turning even for a few moments, my Higher Power can take over and guide me in the right direction,” philosophized a member of Al-Anon’s Courage to Change textbook (Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. ., 1992, page 7).
“When I invite God into my life through prayer, meditation, and conversation, I open myself to infinite possibilities,” another shared in his Hope for Today text (Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 2002, p. 37).
Although it is an ancient practice, its validity, value and effectiveness can be proven by the fact that it has survived the test of time. While it was once an attempt to deepen a person’s understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life, it can now help them to understand themselves by removing the obstacles imposed by themselves and by society, facilitating peace. and peace of mind as you immerse yourself in the moment.
There are several types of meditations, including the guided type, in which a person uses guided imagery or imagery to evoke a mental image of a relaxing place or situation; the mantra type, in which a word or a sound is continuously repeated to reach this state; the mindfulness type, in which you strive to increase your awareness and acceptance of the moment; and the yoga type, in which you use many positions and controlled breathing exercises. Some count but restart the sequence of “One, two, three, four” if there is an intrusive thought, while others focus intently on one object until it seems to be all there is.
While the most effective method may vary by meditator, and this state of concentration and contemplation may last only seconds or minutes for the novice, it’s important to avoid the stress you’re trying to eliminate by obsessing over your proper procedure.
“In every quiet moment that I can find to calm my mind and think about the day ahead, I am meditating,” according to Courage to Change (op. cit., p. 173). “During these moments, by calming my mind and asking my Higher Power for guidance, I find answers to my concerns.”
What is most important to the practice are the common elements of the practice, i.e. focused attention, relaxed breathing, quiet surroundings, a comfortable position, and the ability to allow thoughts to pass through the mind without judgment.
“By meditating, I calm my body and mind, my personal confusion, and return to my spiritual energy, listening to God’s message to me,” according to another member shared on Hope for Today (op. cit., p. 116). “Just as prayer is my way of talking to my Higher Power, meditation is my way of listening to his direction.”
There are numerous benefits to practicing meditation. It reduces stress, increases concentration, improves mood, encourages greater emotional regulation, and allows the person to temporarily abandon their hyperactive and sometimes confused mind. It also allows you to gain new perspectives on situations, increase your patience, tolerance, and self-awareness, and tap into your inner power.
“With prayer and meditation, we find our true inner power,” according to the textbook Adult Children of Alcoholics (World Service Organization, 2006, p. 275). “This is the inner strength that we have always had, but use in a limited way. God has been withholding it until we were ready to claim it.”
Meditation is many things. It is therapeutic, because it leads to a greater spiritual awareness. It fosters a relationship and communication with God, a light-to-light link between a person’s soul and the Higher Power that created it. It allows the meditator to direct his spiritual energy inward to observe and evaluate his motives and actions, and thus understand the behavior patterns that inhibit his ability to become the person he most desires to be. It stills the mind and, in the process, opens the heart. Finally, it separates time, allowing the person to immerse himself in the present, which is the only “time” that his soul can occupy, depositing the past and the future in their rightful places.
Article Sources:
Adult children of alcoholics. Torrance, California: World Service Organization, 2006.
Courage to change. Virginia Beach, Virginia: Headquarters of the Al-Anon Family Group, Inc., 1992.
Hope for today. Virginia Beach, Virginia: Home of the Al-Anon Family Group, Inc., 2002.