Meditation for a Better Life

Are you one of those unlucky people that dread turning the light off at night due to a constant struggle to get to sleep? Meditation aids in quieting and clearing the mind. When your mind is quiet, you feel peaceful and have a better chance of experiencing a good night's sleep as well as a more balanced life.

Anyone can apply meditation to their daily lives to achieve a calmer and more relaxed state of mind, even during stressful periods in their lives. Meditation has been described by many as a state of “restful alertness” which means that although your metabolism slows down like it would when you are sleeping; you are still awake and conscious. This allows your mind to remain clear from your usual continuous thoughts.

Meditation trains the mind and with repeated practice of the art a greater sense of control is experienced. In some cases meditation can aid in bringing to surface dormant tensions. By identifying these tensions and becoming more aware of them one is able to take control of them as well as other external pressures. If focus is kept on the present, less emphasis is placed on past and future worries, and success and self fulfillment is more achievable.

Furthermore, meditation has been proven to keep you feeling younger. With repeated meditation, a person's metabolism is enhanced and the probability of falling ill from certain life threatening disorders is less likely. There is however a variety of meditation forms, and one needs to find the meditation style that suits them the best. You should notice the difference that meditation plays in your life as soon as you have found a meditation type that complements you.

Breath awareness is one of the most important and usually the first steps in your journey to meditation. To practice breath awareness you can follow the following easy steps:

1. Sit down in a comfortable position on a flat surface with your legs crossed and your hands resting on your knees.

2. Close your eyes and relax. Slowly focus all your attention on your natural breathing. Notice how it feels, sounds, how fast you are breathing as well as any pauses and changes that you feel in your breathing. The main point here is to focus completely on your breathing only.

3. If you feel that you start thinking about something else, slowly move your focus back to your breathing. It will become easier to keep focus through time and practice.

4. Complete these steps for a few minutes, and then slowly increase the time in your next meditation session.

5. Do not end the meditation session abruptly but rather stay relaxed with your eyes closed for a couple of minutes and slowly reflect on how you are feeling. You should feel calmer than when you started your meditation process.

Practice this simple meditation process on a daily basis and you should notice positive changes occurring in both your daily life and within your precious sleeping patterns