Meditation

Meditation: Priceless Gifts for Free

/ Susan Hanshaw / 4 Comments

I hate to admit this, but I’ve been neglecting my meditation practice lately, big time. I’ve allowed myself to become “too busy.”  The result?  Well, let’s just say that I haven’t been my usual joyful self. I gave myself an inner boost this morning, though, and it made such a difference that I felt inspired to share.

Here are just some of the benefits you might receive in a 20-minute meditation:

  • Be reminded that your life is not about the outside world and all its complications.
  • Experience a sense of privilege to have been given the opportunity to live.
  • Feel closely connected with the energy behind all of life.
  • Remember how you are really supposed to show up.
  • Become refreshed with a deep sense of peace and joy

Would you agree that this list of benefits reads like a seminar you might pay hundreds of dollars for?

Meditation is free. Here’s a great wikiHow article to help you get started.

I’d love to hear your comments on what meditation has done for you.

Science Shows the Amazing Benefits of Meditation

/ Susan Hanshaw / 6 Comments

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Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been deep in study of the scientific evidence that has come to light that supports many of the spiritual principles that have resonated with me without any hard proof. It has been fascinating and exciting to learn about all the correlations! In particular, I’d like to recommend Lynne McTaggart’s book, The Intention Experiment to anyone interested in learning about this new frontier where science and spirituality come together.

In her book, Lynne McTaggart has taught me much that I didn’t know about meditation. I have viewed meditation as a method for tuning in to my inner wisdom and to connect with divine energy, yet there are so many practical benefits that I am guessing many of us are unaware of. If we were, we might all be clamoring to make it a vital practice in our lives. Here’s what I’ve learned:

Experienced meditators can be more effective in their ability to use their thoughts to effectively influence desired outcomes. Generally speaking, there are two different forms of meditation. Each may produce different brain waves, and consequently offer different benefits:

Concentrative meditation holds attention on the breath, an image, or a sound to still the mind and allow a greater awareness and clarity to emerge. With practice, it appears to enlarge the mechanism by which we receive information and clarify the reception.

By concentrating on focused thoughts, the portion of the brain that handles attention is exercised. This exercise enables its cortical thickness to grow larger. Ordinarily cortical thickness deteriorates with age, yet regular meditation appears to reduce or reverse this process.

Mindfulness meditation involves sitting quietly and being a witness to whatever goes through your mind, not becoming involved or reacting to thoughts, worries, or images. This helps to condition a more calm, clear, and non-reactive state of mind to whatever is happening around and within you.

Studies have shown some other general benefits of meditation to include:

  • Higher levels of gamma waves, which often are associated with feelings of joy
  • A predominance of alpha rhythms, which is the optimal state for the manifestation of your thoughts
  • More coherent brain waves
  • A positive affect on the brain’s reasoning and analytical ability
  • An increase in ability to receive intuitive information, as well as the conscious awareness of it.

Guidance on how to practice either of these types of meditations is enough for two new articles, so I won’t go any further right here. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have in the meantime.

 

Interview: Inspiration for Happiness

/ Susan Hanshaw / 3 Comments

www.sanctuaryforchange.com

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I am delighted to share my space here today with Dr. Susan Gregg, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Short Meditations. I had the honor of asking Susan some questions about the path to happiness and inner peace. I found her answers very inspiring and wanted to share them with you:

SH: I understand that you were schooled in the ancient Toltec tradition with don Miguel Ruiz and Sister Sarita. What is it about the Toltec teachings that resonate so deeply with you?

SG: Ever since I was a young girl I have been fascinated by the idea of freedom and the essence of the Toltec tradition is experiencing personal freedom.

SH: The choice to feel happy is something you focus on in your teaching. Do you find happiness a more organic choice living in Hawaii than one might find living in the mainland states? What is it about Hawaii that calls you?

SG: I believe we can be happy no matter what is happening around us – we can be in the midst of tremendous change and still be happy. So I can be happy in the middle of an airport when I have been traveling for 28 hours, as is the case when I go to Europe once a year to work in Lithuania.

I love Hawaii. I love the people, the feel of the land, the smell of the air and the climate. It is easy to say of course I am happy – I live in paradise. I live in the country surrounded by luscious greenery. But the essence of what I teach people is how to be happy no matter what. I have seen people who are miserable in Hawaii. I love Hawaii so of course I live in a place that is most suited to me and reflects inner self.

Happiness is always just a thought away – so I invite people to think that thought. I used to have a coffee mug that said blossom where you are planted – I blossom here and wherever you are you can blossom and grow too.


SH: A question was posed by one of my readers recently asking for some advice on how one can stay focused on positive thoughts despite the pull of the outside world. What would your advice be?


SG: Life is emotionally neutral. Life is and then we tell ourselves a story. I suggest people let go of the idea of positive and negative. When I watch the news I see events – some people make choices based on judgment and fear. If I perceive them as bad or judge them, it is like trying to put out a fire by throwing gasoline on it. So when I watch the news I send those people love.

I find it much easier to change my perspective than to stop having negative thoughts. If I say don’t think about a red fire truck you immediately think about one. I frequently ask myself, “How can I see this through the eyes of love?” and “What would love do?” Seeing through the eyes of love allows me to see the love in everything.


SH: How did the decision to produce Idiot’s Guide to Short Meditations come to you?


SG: My literary agent contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in writing it. I love meditation and always do guided meditations for my groups so it seemed like a wonderful fit. I really enjoyed writing it and have gotten wonderful feedback from readers.


SH: What would your advice be for someone who wants to start a meditation practice, but doesn’t know how to begin or feels intimidated?


SG: The easiest way to start meditating is by simply focusing your attention on your breath. Whenever your mind wanders just gently bring it back to feeling your breath. I also suggest people set aside time each day to meditate – even if it is only a few minutes. Spiritual practices take practice and with practice meditation becomes easier and very rewarding.


SH: What would you tell them to expect in their early days of practice?


SG: They will have lots of thoughts and that’s okay. Just like going to a gym – if you go regularly and work out, eventually your body will get in shape. Allow meditation to be easy and allow whatever happens be okay. My mantra about meditation and life for that matter is allow it all to be easy and effortless and savor every moment. Savor learning how to meditate, you can only be new to meditation when you are new to it – so savor being new to the process.


SH: You have been a teacher of human potential for many years. How would you describe the evolution of human consciousness that you’ve experienced over the years?


SG: Life just keeps getting better and better. Once we connect with our spirit magic and miracles become a part of every day life. And I have watched people make it so much harder than it needs to be. I did for a long time until I realized I could enjoy it all.


SH: Is there any other specific message you’d like to leave with our readers here?


SG: Give yourself the gift of happiness. Be willing to let go of your limiting beliefs and allow yourself to feel the love that always surrounds you. We never experience life. What we actually experience is our personal story about life – change the story and your experience changes. Once you realize you are making up the story may as well make it a good one!

SG: Thanks so much for having me. Aloha from paradise.

I’d encourage you to check out Susan’s book. Follow the link to her site to obtain a personally autographed copy.

Thanks for visiting. Here’s to choosing happiness!

Susan Hanshaw
susan@susanhanshaw.com

Meditation as Your Channel for Guidance

/ Susan Hanshaw / Leave a comment

I remember my first introduction to meditation. It was in a college philosophy class in 1980. Our instructor had us lying flat on the floor for what seemed like an incredibly long time. I got absolutely nothing out of it except a lowered self esteem and a leeriness for all things “out there”. I walked out of that class scarred with the idea that I was just one of those people who couldn’t get the hang of meditation. Little did I know what incredible influence it would have on my life two decades later.

For me, the biggest obstacle around meditation was getting to the point where I actually believed there was wisdom that was accessible to me. I had to learn to trust that the voice I heard or felt was credible. I had to learn to stop rationalizing the voice as something my mind had made up and just surrender to what was coming to me. I now think of meditation as a practice I treat like my physical workout. It’s necessary routine maintenance for my spirit. It keeps me tuned into who I really am and what I am here to do. It’s my sounding board and my channel for guidance.

I wanted to share with you some understandings I’ve come to over the years which have enabled me to embrace a meditation practice which once felt strange and foreign. If you happen to be someone who experiences a similar challenge, you might make some breakthroughs by considering these beliefs:

  1. The essence of you is not your body. Your body is simply the vessel that holds the energy of your light and enables it to do its work here on earth.
  2. Each one of us is connected through the divine source from which we were created. The only thing that separates you from divine wisdom is your mind. Again, by letting go of the idea that you are a separate body, you gain the insight that you are a part of universal energy which you can tap into at any time.
  3. Your life has significance in this universe. You’re not running around this planet like an unassigned free agent. There is divine guidance available to support you in your purpose here. You simply need to ask for the guidance and expect that it will come to you.
  4. You are a child of God. There is something that God wants to accomplish through you. The understanding of this mission can be received by tuning in to your connection to God in the silence of your meditations.
  5. Your heart is your bodily center of your spirit. Trust what comes to you from your heart more than your analytical mind.

I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about meditation. Stay tuned also for my special guest, Dr. Susan Gregg, who will appear in an interview here on Thursday, July 12th. Susan is the author of Complete Idiot’s Guide to Meditations. Check it out.

Thank you for visiting. Wishing you a journey of wonder and joy.

Susan Hanshaw
susan@sanctuaryforchange.com
www.sanctuaryforchange.com