Searching For the Waters of Antiquity

We all goof off sometimes, whether it’s “zoning” or doodling on a napkin, we’ve been taught that it’s a bad thing. But meditation expert and author of Searching For The Waters Of Antiquity: A Follow-Along Meditation Process, Shirley Ryan says that goofing off or zoning out can be really beneficial to your well-being. “These days mediation is more important than ever, it relieves stress and studies have shown myriad health benefits related to mediation. More often than not people tell me they don’t have time to incorporate mediation into their lives but there are ways you can ‘sneak’ it in, what we refer to as ‘goofing off’ is one of a few ways.”

Here are the Ten Tips to Quick, Easy Meditation:

1. Doodling: Spend some time doodling, the act of being engaged in this process will help you block out the outside world, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
2. Bird watching: Bird watching is centering and calming.
3. Fish: Mesmerize yourself by watching fish swim.
4. Strolling: It doesn’t have to be a power-walk, in fact strolling is a great way
to use up pent up energy and go into a state of detachment.
5. Laughter: Laughter uses all of our muscles offering relaxation and also
manages pain. Laughter not only relieves tension but the medical benefits
to daily laughter can’t be ignored. (Norman Cousins, Anatomy of an Illness)
6. Skipping stones: Circles within the waters made by the stone turn to calm
waters and a calmer you!
7. Stroking pets: (the therapeutic and calming benefits have been recognized
by hospitals and senior centers for years.
8. Whittling wood: Pure zoning qualities with an extra benefit of artistic
satisfaction.
9. Rosary beads, Mala beads & worry stones: Thousands use these method
to keep focused and feel peaceful.
10. Pictures & mirrors: (Michael H. Brown, Ed.S. Mandala Symbolism, looking
at ourselves and others…”give us reflections of what ordinarily remains
outside our awareness or field of view.  They help us stay connected to loved
ones, and to ourselves.” Bottom line traditionally provides comfort and calm.

All of these easy methods of “mindfulness” meditation practices help more than simply zoning out. In an article from Mercy Medical Center of Des Moines, Integrating meditation into conventional medical practice, sites in a recent study, “…patients who followed a mindfulness-based stress reduction program experienced a 65% reduction in total mood disturbance and a 31% reduction in total stress score.” Giving ourselves small breaks in the day can allow our body to heal minute to minute maintaining health and life satisfaction.

Posted on Saturday, June 3rd, 2006 at 11:59 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.