A Meditation Newbie

by Paula
(Grand Prairie, Texas, USA)

Recently I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. The day before I had committed to stop smoking. Then the depression set in.

I am no stranger to depression and have, over the last 20 years, taken medications and been hospitalized for this illness. I did not want to go that route again.

I had found some useful meditation videos on YouTube and eventually found out about a book titled The Mindful Way through Depression. I purchased it and began reading.

The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness (Book & CD)

So much of what is written in this book made sense to me and I was eager to start putting the suggestions into practice. After several chapters I am now at the point of starting on an 8 week mindfulness course which teaches mindfulness meditation to help break the cycle of chronic depression.

I know that I desperately need to learn to relax and let go of the stress and worry in my life and live it one day at a time.

The internet is a wonderful tool and resource to help educate oneself about illness such as diabetes, or depression or how to be happy in retirement but there is so much information all written by a variety of different people living vastly different lives. Even the medical communities cannot seem to agree on issues of health and treatment for illness. I now realize that I am stressing myself out emotionally trying to do everything "right" because of the fear I have of what might happen if I don't eat right, exercise daily, stay active and so forth.

But this is my life and I have to do what is right for me! Yes I will take my medications, eat healthy, exercise daily but I also need to nourish myself emotionally and remember that I live one day at a time and that so much of my stress is literally all in my mind!

I believe that daily meditation as part of my new lifestyle will bring the healing I so desperately need. I must learn to be me and take what I need from the advice and ideas and experiences of others and make it work for me!

And I am still smoke free after 1 month!

Comments for A Meditation Newbie

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Meditation Newbie
by: Elizabeth/Spokane

I first began meditating when Transcendental Meditation first was becoming popular. I was a sophomore in college - October, 1968. I have pretty much been meditating ever since (except when my children were little).

It really helps me to relax, calm down and make a connection with my higher Self, Spirit whatever.
I now begin by taking 3 (or more) super deep breaths and releasing. I then begin telling my body to relax - some people say they first tense their feet for example, then release them.

I continue to tell my parts of my body to relax, moving up my legs, then my bottom, hips, abdomen, lower back, solar plexus and stomach, my middle back, my heart, chest and lungs and my upper back. I then relax my shoulders, upper arms, elbows, forearms, wrists, back of hands, palms, fingers and thumbs.

Finally, I move to the back of my neck, my throat, my chin, lips, nose, cheeks, eyes, eyebrows, sides of face, ears, scalp and hair. I then usually give myself an affirmation like, "I am healing now."

Other meditators I know start with their heads and move down. There is no one way to do it, just relax your body as deeply as possible.

There are so many meditation ways. I just mainly use my mantra word from TM. However, you can focus on your breath, see a candle flame in your mind's eye, raise the kundalini energy light up and down your spinal cord. When you catch yourself thinking thoughts, gently return your mind to your focus point.

I used to meditate for 15 minutes in morning; now, I meditate for 30 to 40 minutes every morning.

Sometimes, especially when I have my grandsons, I miss doing it.

I love meditating. I receive messages from Spirit often. Oh, good for you to stop smoking!

I Love Meditation!
by: Wendy

Paula, I originally wrote about Meditation when I was first learning more about it. Never knew if I would keep it up, or not.. but I have.

I love it. I am now forcing myself to STOP working (my online work here), and I back away. I meditate. I listen to meditation audios, or ebooks, etc. Stepping back allows my brain to chill a bit, and when I start back online - 15 minutes later or 2 hours later, I am re-energized and can easily focus on my work. I do so much more now, when working LESS... meditation really helps me!

One book I recently listened to, FREE on You Tube, was Dale Carnaghie's old book "How to Stop Worrying... and Start Living". It's really good... thoroughly enjoyed it.

Go Girl... Keep on working through your issues and life will be happier. We all have choices in life! GO FOR IT and Pick the Best ones for YOU!

p.s. Congrats on dumping smoking! You are rocking, Girl!

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