Of all the personal development and success techniques I’ve learned over the years there’s been one that I’ve tried to avoid at all costs.
I’ve come up with excuses, justifications, and maybe even a few somewhat logical reasons why I was just too busy to do it.
There was also the fact that as a Type-A, over achiever, can’t-sit-still type of person the thought of “chilling out” for even 10 minutes seemed impossible, and certainly uncomfortable.
But, in my never ending quest for knowledge I kept reading and hearing about it over, and over again.
Mainstream Meditation
Praised by some of the world’s most successful people like billionaire hedge fund owner Ray Dalio, News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch, Oprah Winfrey (who needs no introduction) and Arianna Huffington, meditation has been thrust into the spotlight and given some pretty impressive press.
Meditation more than anything in my life was the biggest ingredient of whatever success I’ve had. -[Ray Dalio][1]
So, with an iPhone app in hand, and a million thoughts rambling around my head, I decided to give it a try, and the results were better than I expected.
5 Benefits of Meditation
1. It Lowers Stress
It can also help to ease anxiety.
2. It Improves Performance
The U.S. Marine Corps is currently studying the effects of meditation on its troops performance and ability to handle stress.
3. It Helps You Sleep Better
A study done at the University of Utah found that meditation training can help you sleep better at night.
4.It Improves Your Decision Making
Meditation allows us to train our brains to stay in the present moment and avoid living in the past which can distort our thinking.
5. It Makes You More Productive
Saving the best for last. Meditation makes you more productive by training your mind to resist distracting urges and tendencies. This was by far the greatest advantage for me.
Start By Breathing
If you decide that you want to give meditation a try it’s easy to quickly become overwhelmed with the options. There’s Mindfulness Meditation, Zen Meditation, Spiritual Meditation, Vipasanna Meditation, Focused Meditation, Movement Meditation, Mantra Meditation, and the ever popular Transcendental Meditation, or TM.
I started simply focusing on my breathing, and doing it for 1 minute, then 3 minutes, then 5 minutes. I’ve tried longer sessions but I seem to get the most benefit out of 5 minutes done once or twice a day.
If you’re looking for some support then calm.com is a good free resource. There are also a number of good apps such as Omvana and Buddhify which offer a selection of music, guided meditations, and suggestions for what to listen to based on your mood or time of day.
A Moment Of Silence
No matter what version of meditation you decide to try you really can’t go too wrong. The key is just to take a deep breath, breathe out, then do it again.
1: http://www.forbes.com/profile/ray-dalio/ Bridgewater Associates
