Have you considered incorporating meditation into your daily routine to help you unwind and relieve your tension? It may appear that meditation is a complex process that requires advanced awareness and ability, but at its foundation, meditation is largely about focus and relaxation.
By performing the visualization technique that follows, you will see just how easy it is to meditate. The instructions are straightforward, and you can do this exercise right at home in a comfortable setting.
Meditation exercises can be performed at any time during the day, but mornings are really the preferred choice. You’ll have fewer interruptions then, and since you’ve just started your day, you won’t have a multitude of distracting thoughts and emotions to get past.
Before you start, find a peaceful, secluded room, somewhere where you feel calm and quiet. Now seat yourself in a comfortable position, sitting straight with your spine relaxed but upright. Sit wherever you feel most comfy, either in a chair, on the floor, perched on a cushion, or on the bed. People frequently meditate sitting cross-legged on the floor, but if you find this uncomfortable or restrictive to your circulation, keep your legs extended. The important thing is that you’re relaxed.
Now that you’ve settled in, it’s time to calm yourself. Close your eyes and relax your body. Let go of your thoughts for the moment.
Now comes the visualization part. Choose an object to think about. This can literally be anything - a flower, a pet, or even a kitchen appliance! Mentally focus on this object and think about its features. Think about its color, its shape and its texture. Then imagine what it would be like to be that object.
Remain relaxed and calm while doing this visualization exercise. Don’t force your thoughts, just have an awareness of your object and let it naturally become you.
The key to your success in this visualization exercise is to not let your focus be sidetracked by obtrusive thoughts or noises. If you hear something that distracts you or if you start thinking about your schedule for the day, just let go of the distraction and concentrate once again on your object.
To attain a high level of concentration and the ability to focus your mind will involve considerable practice. But through time, you should be able to visualize any object with little effort.
Learning to block out distractions and focus your mind will be accomplished much more quickly if you add visualization meditation to your daily routine. Soon you’ll be well on your way to a calmer, more relaxed state of being.