Meditation and Healing - from the Health and Healing Series at SupportNet.ca - Resources for Your Recovery

Recovery is learning to enjoy life - without the use of alcohol or drugs that alter mind or mood.

It is treatment for the condition of addiction - an approach to the challenges of life - and a path to personal growth.

Recovery requires us to learn - about the true nature of addiction.

It may be personalized - but it has its necessary Principles and its Ways.

The Principles of Recovery provide direction - to the choices that we face each day.

The Ways of Recovery provide us with tools - that help us to heal - and to enjoy life on life’s terms.

This Learning Seminar introduces the topic of Meditation and Healing -

What you need to know about meditation - and how it encourages healing in mind, body and spirit.

Introduction

Meditation is a word of many meanings.

Mostly, it is about being alert, aware and accepting of our experience in just being here - right now.

Meditation is letting go - of the business of the world - the clutter in our mind - and of the feelings that pass through our body.

It is learning to watch, listen and feel - without being tossed about by the things that happen around and within us.

It helps us to exercise the healthy abilities of our mind - to find a place of stability and peace within our self.

SupportNet introduces several types of meditation - Active, Mantra and Mindfulness Meditation.

Active Meditation is the best place to start - for those with an overly restless mind or body.

Mantra Meditation allows your mind to rest on a calming phrase that you repeat over and again in your mind.

In Mindfulness Meditation - we rest our mind’s eye on our breath - notice and let go - of whatever else comes up.

Practice in any of these types - Active, Mantra or Mindfulness - will help you to enjoy the many benefits of meditation.

Meditation and Healing

Meditation exercises the healthy abilities of our mind.

It is practice in concentration - learning to rest your mind on a single focus of attention.

An attentive mind does not come easily - or naturally to many people. Practice in quiet meditation will improve your ability.

Meditation is practice in letting go - of the clutter and the chatter that seems to play endlessly in our mind.

It helps us to see that we are more than the stuff in our head - and that we can maintain a calm presence of mind regardless of what else may come and go.

Meditation is learning to relax - our mind and our body.

We learn to relax when a distant memory stirs up old feelings. We learn a powerful skill in meditation - to relax our body - regardless of what comes to our mind.

Meditation helps us to be mindful - to be alert to what is happening within us right now.

It leaves us more aware - of the thoughts and the feelings that influence so much of what we do in the day.

Meditation helps us to face our fears.

As we learn to maintain a calm presence of mind - we gain confidence in dealing with our memories, thoughts and feelings.

We learn to calmly hold our ground right now.

Meditation is learning to accept who we are.

Meditation helps us to learn skills - to deal with memories, feelings or impulses that can otherwise seem overwhelming.

It connects us on the inside.

A better ability to focus our mind - practice in letting go - and learning to maintain a calm presence of mind.

These skills prepare us for times when painful memories or life crises threaten to overtake us.

Daily practice builds confidence in your abilities.

Learn to focus your mind on days when you are calm. Let go of the little stuff now - before it builds into resentment or worry.

Prepare for the difficult - while it is easy.

Meditation gives us space - to make healthier choices.

It teaches us to not immediately react to whatever happens - that we need not be pulled, pushed and tossed about by each passing feeling or impulse.

It is learning to pause - to reflect - and to consider how best to respond.

Meditation helps us to see that there is me inside - watching, considering, choosing what to do - or not do.

It helps me to realize my self - aware of what is happening to me - but free to choose how best to respond.

Three conditions of our mind are most common - and lead to much of the stress that occurs in our lives.

The first is our ignorance - of how the mind works - and of its powerful role in determining the course of our life and health.

Meditation is learning how the mind works - and about exercising its healthy abilities for calm alertness.

The second condition is our lack of mindfulness - for thoughts, feelings or desires - that regardless determine the choices that we make and the things that we do.

Meditation is practice in mindfulness - taking time to look - at who we are and what is inside of us right now.

The third condition is our confusion about boundaries - about who we are right now - and what we are not.

We confuse what has happened in the past - with who and what we are today. Beliefs, feelings and habits - taught to us by others - are given control over self.

And as our mind drifts - our body automatically follows - increasingly tense, stressed, restless and fatigued.

Meditation reminds us to be present - here and now - that the past is the past - and that the future is only our imagination.

As we learn to attend to our breath - and to not be pulled away by each passing distraction - we learn to stay grounded and present right now.

Meditation helps us to better see - the thoughts and feelings that pass through us - and the ways these connect to each other.

We learn that we are not only about the things that happen to us - or even what happens inside of us - but that there is a part of us free to choose how to be.

Mediation helps us to learn boundaries - between memories of the past - and life today.

It helps us to see the difference - between the stuff that comes and goes through my mind - and the stuff that is truly me.

Between whatever is happening - and a calm alertness of body and mind - that we learn to maintain throughout.

In Summary

Meditation is a powerful tool of mental health, healing and growth.

It teaches us to maintain a calm, presence of mind - and to realize our self today.

It helps us to let go of stuff from the past - and that we allow to disturb our selves today.

Meditation is learning to accept who we are right now.

You have now reached the end of Meditation and Healing.

Look for this and other Learning Seminars at www.SupportNet.ca - Resources for Your Recovery.