Meditate Don't Procrastinate

We all have stress. Each and everyone of us, at one point or another, comes across a situation that affects us physically. Whether it makes your heart race, your head ache or causes you to lose sleep, when stress manifests physically, it's time to stop and take notice. It's true what they say, stress kills. Over the last couple of months, there have been a significant number of changes in my life. My job is in jeopardy, I was recently excepted to a prominent university that I have to figure out how to pay for, and number of changes going on personally, and it's all a bit overwhelming.

So it was high time to get my stress and anxiety under wraps, and find a suitable way to bring some more calm to my chaotic life. I decided to take a serious look at the art of meditation. I must admit, I've always had some strong views about meditation. I had always associated it with religion, spirituality and weird chanting. I know, I know, I sound like an ignorant buffoon, but you'll be happy to hear I've since changed my perspective and have conducted a serious amount of research. I realized that mediating wasn't just for granola-eating tree-huggers, or people who dedicated obscene amounts of time to live on an ashram. Mediation is not specific to certain walks of life. Whether you're a crime scene investigator, a college student or a stay-at-home mom of three, everyone can benefit from a few moments of stillness in their day. So, let's get started!  
  
Set the scene Find a space in your house that will be dedicated to your meditation time. Make sure it's clutter free, and a space that you're going to be comfortable in. If you're a spiritual person, you can add a few iconic items that speak to your beliefs if you wish. Personally, I like to keep it simple. A few candles, and some essential oil nearby. The smell of Frangipani reminds me of my time in Bali, and immediately puts me at peace.

Find a comfortable position You don't have to sit with your legs crossed, I actually prefer to lay down on my back, that way I can focus on my breathing. You can sit in any position you want, as long as it doesn't take the focus away from what you're trying to accomplish, stillness and inner calm.


Breathing is everything We don't notice, but we spend most of our day with our shoulders at our ears; We breathe into our chest, and this is wrong. If you ever watched a baby sleep, you'll notice that they breathe deeply, and they breathe down into their belly. I would say that 90% of meditation is about breathing, and if you don't have that down, you're not going to have a very rewarding meditative experience.