Many seek to escape a world that has become chaotic and stressful, and they do so through physical means that include temporarily vacationing on a tropical island or permanently moving to a secluded cabin in the mountains. But when those conditions exist inside, in the mind and in the emotions, there is an easier and more immediate method, through meditation.
Meditation, a deep state of introspection and contemplation, is the temporary separation of the soul from its form, allowing it to rise above thoughts, reactions, and even pain to create a feeling of oneness with the universe.
“If I can keep the wheels from turning even for a few moments, my Higher Power can take over and guide me in the right direction,” philosophized a member of Al-Anon’s Courage to Change text (Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. ., 1992, p. 7).
“When I invite God into my life through prayer, meditation, and conversation, I open myself to endless possibilities,” shared another in his Hope for Today text (Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 2002, p. 37).
Although it is an ancient practice, its validity, value and effectiveness can be proven by the fact that it has survived the test of time. While it was once an attempt to deepen a person’s understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life, it can now help him understand himself by removing self-imposed and societal obstacles that hinder him, facilitating peace. and peace of mind as you immerse yourself in the moment.
There are several types of meditations, including the guided type, in which a person uses visualization or guided imagery to evoke a mental image of a relaxing place or situation; the mantra type, in which a word or sound is continuously repeated to achieve this state; the mindful type, in which you strive to increase your awareness and acceptance of the moment; and the yoga type, in which you use many positions and controlled breathing exercises. Some count, but restart the sequence of “One, two, three, four” if there is an intrusive thought, while others focus intensely on an object until it seems to be the only thing there.
While the most effective method may vary by meditator, and this state of concentration and contemplation may last only seconds or minutes for the novice, it’s important to avoid the stress you’re trying to eliminate by obsessing over your proper procedure.
“In every quiet moment I can find to calm my mind and think about the day ahead, I am meditating,” according to Courage to Change (op. cit., p. 173). “During these times, by calming my mind and asking my Higher Power for guidance, I find answers to my concerns.”
What is most important to the practice are the common elements of the practice, namely focused attention, relaxed breathing, a quiet environment, a comfortable position, and the ability to allow thoughts to pass through the mind without judgment.
“By meditating, I calm my body and mind, my personal confusion, and return to my spiritual energy, listening to God’s message to me,” according to another member shared on Hope for Today (op. cit., p. 116). “Just as prayer is my way of talking to my Higher Power, meditation is my way of listening to direction from him.”
There are numerous benefits to practicing meditation. It reduces stress, increases concentration, improves mood, encourages greater emotional regulation, and allows the person to temporarily leave their overactive and sometimes confused mind. It also allows you to gain new perspectives on situations, increase your patience, tolerance, and self-awareness, and tap into your inner power.
“With prayer and meditation, we find our true inner power,” according to the textbook Adult Children of Alcoholics (World Service Organization, 2006, p. 275). “This is the inner strength that we have always had, but used in a limited way. God has been holding it back until we were ready to claim it.”
Meditation is many things. It is therapeutic, because it leads to greater spiritual awareness. It fosters a relationship and communication with God, a light-to-light bond between a person’s soul and the Higher Power that created it. It allows the meditator to direct his spiritual energy inward to observe and evaluate his motives and actions, and thus understand the behavior patterns that inhibit his ability to become the person he most desires to be. It quiets the mind and, in the process, opens the heart. Finally, it separates time, allowing the person to immerse himself in the present, which is the only “time” that his soul can occupy, depositing the past and the future in the places that correspond to them.
Article sources:
Adult children of alcoholics. Torrance, California: World Service Organization, 2006.
Courage to change. Virginia Beach, Virginia: Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 1992.
Hope for today. Virginia Beach, Virginia: Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 2002.
