Meditation

Meditation is a practice in observing thoughts and emotions without judging them.  It is a helpful practice for self-awareness.  Some of the benefits of meditation are stress reduction, improved immunity, sharpened focus and attention, connection to the body and breath, and acceptance of difficult emotions. 

In addition to its influence on the HPA axis, meditation increases vagal tone and reduces inflammatory markers like CRP, making it an excellent practice for those with autoimmune diseases.

I committed to 3 months of weekly guided group meditations (40 min) about a year ago.  I didn’t understand it, or necessarily like it for the first several weeks.  Somewhere around the 2 month mark, I noticed I was far less anxious, more focused, and looked forward to the sessions because I knew it would calm me for several days after.  I became less reactive to my emotions and more observant. I was sold. 

If you want to see if meditation is for you, I recommend committing to a regular practice for 3 months before making a judgment call.  You can start small (5-10 minute meditations) or join group sessions if it helps. 

Some of my favorite free meditations:

• Depok Chopras 21 Day Abundance Meditation: 21 Day Abundance Meditation

• 10-15 Minute Meditations

1.  Emotionally Healthy Soul-Topic-based written with a licensed therapist and my pastor  

• 5 Minute Meditations

1. 32 Days of Cultivating Peace Meditations

2. Praying Through the Psalms