Another meditation I love when I can’t be out in nature is a DVD of sceneries in nature.  (I don’t get any affiliate commissions from recommending this DVD, I just recommend it because I have enjoyed having it be my meditation periodically).  I have a DVD of the world’s most beautiful places from a company called HDenvironments.com.  They have a series called “Living Landscapes.”  It shows beautiful scenery, plays wonderful background music and allows you to also hear the sounds of nature such as birds, the ocean, etc.

I sometimes like to put this in and just “meditate.”  As I watch the scenes and listen to the sounds, I am aware of the aliveness inside my own body.  It’s a great meditation.

As you can see, anything can BE a meditation.

Have fun with it!

Peace,

Lisa

Whether you “freak out” when you read the title or not depends on how you view meditation.  IF you think meditation is about closing your eyes and relaxing, then of course you don’t want to do this while driving.  However, meditation is really about being fully in the moment and realizing the truth of who you are.  You can do this while you drive!

For example, when in traffic, I feel the aliveness in the area of my hands while I am touching the steering wheel.  That’s meditation.   Or I notice my breath as I’m driving.  I’m still very alert to what’s going on around me.  However, I’m aware internally as well.  People in the 21 day meditation circles have commented that they have meditated while driving and don’t get so stressed out in traffic.

I’d encourage you to make ANY daily activity a chance to meditate.  Pick one:  unloading the dishwasher, showering, driving, etc and start with that.  You can listen to some of the previous podcasts on the various techniques if you’d like.

Peace,

Lisa Hepner

Of course, I could look up the statistics regarding the health benefits of meditation.  OR even site statistics about how meditation helps raise consciousness at a global level.  But most of us are aware of these benefits.  (Do a search under health benefits of meditation to find out how meditation reduces blood pressure and contributes to overall health, or read the book Permanent Peace by Dr. Oates to find out more about the Maharishi effect and other studies that demonstrate the positive effect of meditation around the globe).

I, however, like to answer this question from a personal perspective and tell people what meditation has done for me and the practical applications where meditation has come in handy for me.

Meditation used to calm yourself

Meditation can be used to calm yourself and get yourself back to center.  With meditation, you become less reactive and more responsive.  If you feel stress or worry, you can meditate and alleviate or significantly reduce the worry or stress.   Sometimes I can get fearful or worried about finances.  Yet with meditation, I have been able to live in the moment and not be fearful of the future.  I have also used meditation to calm myself down in family situations where someone is angry.  When I feel the anger rising up in me, I can focus on my breathing and reduce the anger inside.  Then I can respond to the situation appropriately.  Meditation has also helped me in the practice of forgiveness.  For example, on vacation recently a family member said a very mean comment and became filled with anger.  I was able to meditate after the event and forgive the family member instead of carrying around the resentment.

Meditation for healing

Meditation has been wonderful as a healing process.  If I feel a cold coming on, I have been able to meditate and bring my awareness inside my body and feel my Presence.   Since practicing this I have not had a major cold like I used to get often.  I have also used meditation to alleviate menstrual cramps.

Meditation to feel gratitude

Meditation has helped me be grateful of the present moment and all it has to offer….Meditation has helped me live with an attitude of gratitude.

Meditation to Sleep Peacefully

Meditation has helped me to sleep better.  If I can’t sleep at night, I do my meditation and find that I fall asleep peacefully and wake up refreshed.

Meditation helps you BE present in the moment

Meditation has dramatically changed the way I work.  I do things from a place of BEING.  Wheareas before, I would try to MAKE things happen.  Now I allow them to happen.  Roadblocks do not paralyze me anymore, like they used to.  I am able to move forward and do things in the moment and enjoy the process!  

Meditation helps you experience peace regardless of what is going on externally

Most of all meditation has helped me experience peace regardless of what is going on externally.  With meditation, I am no longer a victim to my circumstances.  I can look at them from a “It is what is is” perspective.  I’m not attached to results.   I still work toward my goals and dreams, but I am not attached to a specific outcome. Therefore I am able to “rebound” from ”disappointments” easier because my happiness is not dependent on a specific outcome.

Overall, meditation has dramatically changed my life in all areas.

It has been the single most important “practice” to help me live from that place of Presence.

The Don’t Wait–Meditate pledge means that you commit to using moments you would normally spend waiting–meditating instead.

This is very powerful. Imagine if people from all around the globe commited to this process….

You can find “techniques” to use while you are waiting by listening to Podcasts 1-6.

Peace,

Lisa Hepner

Meditation, we learn from the 21 day program, is a joyous activity of BEING in the moment.  It is about being fully present in the moment, and feeling that aliveness within.

With this definition, pets can be our meditations. 

Many people claim they don’t have time to meditate or that they do not have the ability to specify a specific time every day to devote to meditation.  If you are one of these people, I would invite you to have your pets BE your meditation.

For example, many times when I am sitting at my computer in my home/office, my cat Vinnie will come up to me and meow and want attention.  He is a wonderful meditation timer.  Now, I stop what I’m doing, if only for a minute or so, and sit on the floor with him and BE with him.  My petting of my cat becomes my meditation. 

Pets live fully in the moment, and you can join them in the NOW if you choose too!  So next time you think you don’t have time to meditate.  Sit down with your pet and BE with your pet.  Make that your meditation.  You will gain so much from it, and of course your pet will too!

Enjoy!

Peace,
Lisa Hepner

Click HERE

Peace,
Lisa

You can listen to previous podcasts for meditation techniques #1, 2 and 3.

These are the four basic meditation techniques we use for the meditation circles.  Then we use variations on those techniques ie: with eyes open, etc.

If you are interested in participating in a meditation circle for 21 days to help you develop the habit of meditation, check out: http://www.meditationchallenge.com

Peace,
Lisa