The mind automatically creates stories about the people and events in our lives. These stories are almost entirely works of fiction based on our habits of thinking, our fears, and our childhood imprints. These stories reflect our subconscious programming, which very often is in control of our lives.
The following exercise uses a thinking routine to challenge the storyteller.
Just because a meditation practice is easy, does not necessarily mean it is the best one for your brain. Anything worthwhile takes effort. If you are looking to engage in meditation to rebalance the brain, the practice may be difficult. You are asking your brain to do something new, to change its old patterns. This is not likely to be easy. Meditation is work.
Read MoreOne of the physical manifestations of depression is a caved chest. This appears to be a way that the mind-body naturally attempts to protect the heart. Unfortunately, this pattern can often become habitual, leading to defensiveness and an inability to feel positive feelings.
Read MoreFor those who have difficulty experiencing positive feelings, opening the heart can be very uncomfortable.
If you struggle to find something to feel grateful for, thinking of a memory to serve as a positive emotional anchor can be useful.
Shifting the body can help the brain shift, too. Researchers exploring the relationship between mood and the body have found that walking in an erect posture and skipping tends to increase subjective feelings of energy and positive emotional states. In contrast, a slouched posture may decrease feelings of energy and increase negative emotions (Peper & Lin, 2012; Nair et al, 2015).
Read MoreMeditation can be thought of as a form of mental training. It is a skill (or set of skills) that allow us to intentionally direct our attention in ways that challenge the automatic and habitual ways that the mind tends to engage. Just like any skill, getting good at meditation requires practice. Unfortunately, practice is hard. Unless you were lucky enough to be born with a rock-solid will it is tempting to put aside this practice when we feel stressed, pressed for time, or simply bored with doing the same thing day after day. Here are 5 tips to help you stay consistent with your practice:
Read MoreDo you ever feel anxious when doing relaxing activities like yoga, meditation, or getting a massage?
If you answered yes, you are one of the 15%-20% of people who experience anxiety during formal relaxation training.
There is no such thing as a “wrong” style. As all forms of exercise are beneficial, so too are all meditation styles. You will see a different result from running than weight training, and you will see a different result if you choose a Focus meditation than a Quiet Mind meditation.
Read MoreOpen Heart meditations involve activating positive feelings and focusing those feelings towards others. These types of meditative practices are distinct from Focus meditations in that they involve the intentional generation of caring, love, and compassion. Examples include lovingkindness and other compassion-based meditation practices.
Read MoreThe role the environment plays in your meditation practice is important. Elements of your practice space can facilitate entering an open, loving, generous state of consciousness. You can invest in your meditation space without investing a lot - or any - money.
Read MoreFeeling depressed, agitated, or anxious? It's no wonder! The brain is designed to focus on the threatening parts of life, leaving us feeling exhausted, discouraged, and depleted. The way to counteract this tendency is to intentionally focus on the positive. This practice is about savoring the good.
Read MoreMeditation is a method to shift the brain into healthier and more balanced ways of relating to and experiencing the world. There are many different styles of meditation, and they all require preparing the body and beginning our practice with a posture most conducive to directing our attention inward. Our mothers were right: posture is important!
Read MoreSometimes moving away from negative stimuli is just as important as moving toward positive stimuli.
Most television programs, including the news, are written to stir powerful, uncomfortable feelings. This tactic keeps your attention, and it works! Unfortunately, the brain responds to these images and messages by initiating a stress repose. Even if the images and stories are untrue, the brain responds as if they were.
How can we stay connected to the world around us while moving away from negative stimuli and allowing our brains to rest? To answer this question for yourself, try the thinking routine below.
Read MoreQigong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient Chinese exercise and healing technique that involves meditation, controlled breathing, and movement exercises. Qigong is therefore sometimes translated as "vital energy cultivation" or "mastery of your energy."
Try our warmup session in the video below to pique your interest. This meditation style can help you feel more connected to your body than ever before.
Read MoreLosing sight of the humanity in others can be easy to do, especially during polarizing political elections. Open Heart Meditations can be one way to increase our empathy, which will ultimately help us work toward solutions that address systemic unrest.
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