Are you like me when it comes to meditation? Thoughts fly around my brain the more I try to clear it. One of my friends says that just the thought of sitting in silence gives her the willies.

Why do we have to meditate?

Because Mayo Clinic suggests that meditation helps us manage symptoms of conditions such as:

• Anxiety

• Asthma

• Cancer

• Chronic pain

• Depression

• Heart disease

• High blood pressure

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Sleep problems

• Tension headaches

In addition, meditation helps us:

• Gain a new perspective on stressful situations

• Build skills to manage our stress

• Increase self-awareness

• Focus on the present

• Reduce negative emotions

• Increase imagination and creativity

• Increase patience and tolerance

The best part is that these benefits spill over into our daily lives, long after the meditation session is over.

How do I start?

• Download the free app Insight Timer, which has guided meditations, sleep guidance, courses, and music.

• Subscribe to Tara Brach’s podcast which alternates between talks and guided meditations.

• Find Deepak Chopra’s guided meditations on the web.

• Read Real Happiness: A 28-Day Program to Realize the Power of Meditation by Sharon Salzburg

For those of you who already have a meditation practice, let me know if you have other resources to suggest.

How do I find Time? Space? Quiet?

Time - I started to practice meditation as a single mom working two jobs. I realized that the only quiet time I had to myself was in the morning before my kids got up. The thought of getting up any earlier than I had to was painful, but the reward was worth it—better health, better sleep, and an optimistic attitude. It may be difficult to set aside time to meditate, but if you really care about it, you will find the time.

Space – The space you need to meditate only needs to be large enough for you to sit and located in a spot where you will not be interrupted.

Quiet - It is not possible to achieve perfect silence. During the summer I can hear the hum of a mower somewhere in the neighborhood from sunup to sundown. I can often hear the voices of my family or the rustling of my dog who is always by my side while I am meditating. Accept that there will always be noise and that a meditation practice will help you tune it out.

Good luck and let me know how you do!

Source: Mayo Clinic, “Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress”, https://MayoClinic.org