When people think about changing their lives, they imagine making bold and drastic moves. They want to develop the discipline and endurance to run marathons. People want to "put themselves out there" to enjoy new and exciting romantic relationships. They want to leave their comfort zones and move to a new country. While all these examples would certainly be life changing, big changes like these are difficult to implement.
But what if you could change your life by making a tiny change? In just 10 minutes per day, I believe you can transform your experience of the world. This small habit could have a massive impact on your life. What is this life changing practice?
Meditation
By meditating for 10 minutes a day, you begin to change your mind. If you stick with it, meditation will change how you see the world.
I meditate everyday as part of my morning routine. Ever since I began meditating, I've seen an amazing improvement in my mood and my ability to be kind to others.
But don't take my word for it, check out this video by ASAP Science. It's only 3 minutes long, and they cover most of the scientific findings on meditation. Also, these guys went to the same university as me (Go Guelph!), so they must be smart!
Clearly, practicing meditation can lead to life changing benefits. Increased immune function, greater empathy, reduced stress and anxiety... it's pretty powerful stuff! And you don't have to meditate for hours on end. Just 10 minutes of meditation a day is enough to glean some of its potent benefits.
Great! How Do I Start Meditating?
Most people start meditating through a guided meditation. In guided meditation, an instructor walks you through a meditation practice. This helps you to avoid distractions when you're just starting out. And thanks to the internet, there are hundreds of thousands of guided meditations available to you for free. Here is one of my favourites. In this video, Sam Harris teaches vipassana meditation (or "mindfulness meditation") and it only takes eight minutes to complete.
If you want to find more guided meditations, I'd recommend using an app called Insight Timer. It's a entirely free app as of the publishing of this article, and I do not benefit from you using it. Insight Timer has a lot of cool features that allow you to make friends, track your progress, and discover new meditation teachers.
Your Mission, If You Choose To Accept It...
I challenge my fellow Steemians to try meditating for 10 minutes a day. Make a commitment to yourself to try it for one week, or better yet a month, and see how it affects your mood and your perception of the world.
Make the time to change your life for the better. It only takes ten minutes per day.
Thanks for reading!
Do you meditate? Will you try meditation? Do you have some doubts about meditation? Comment below and let's discuss meditation together.
Please feel free to follow me!
Check out my introduction post on Steemit
Read my last article on Why Motivation Sucks and Discipline Rocks
Read about my perspective on providing value on Steemit
I can not imagine NOT meditating! At first I was formal about it but as the years have passed, I am able to meditate many times a day, and call on it often! Great post! 🆙 #steemitbloggers
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks, Melinda! Yes, whenever I am bad and miss a few days I think and start up again, I can never understand why I stopped. It's so soothing.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Meditation saves my days sometimes. I like to face into the sun or towards a window, to feel connected with the life out there. I don't think meditation techniques can be taught, because every person will find their own different way :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hey, @ofoord! I appreciate the support.
Yes, meditation can be a life saver! It gets me through some very difficult days.
I partially agree with you about it being difficult to teach. Everyone's mind is so different. It makes it hard to know how to instruct people properly, because you'll never see inside another person's mind.
People often need a leg up though, and a little instruction helps some people out at first!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Wow, am overwhelmed by this post! I will try this with my friends and family....its somehow similar to yoga
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yep! It's similar to yoga! I also do yoga from time-to-time. It helps me to relax and stay positive.
And a little meditation never hurt anyone. You should definitely give it a go.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Excellent post friend, I was recently reading a post from a very close friend who came from a 10 day meditation retreat, I will leave it here so you can see it.
https://busy.org/spanish/@psicologo/pase-10-dias-sin-hablar-sin-ningun-tipo-de-contacto-con-nadie-asi-fue-mi-experiencia
I am just beginning with meditation I have really little time and it is still quite difficult to maintain the concentration but I know that it is something that is working little by little, I know that it is something extremely important and feasible in the day to day. I really liked your post, very interesting. Greetings from Venezuela
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hey, @winizart! Good to hear from you again!
Yes, meditation is difficult. You are totally okay just doing 5-10 minutes a day. You just have to build the habit to start.
And I will have a peek at your friend's post. Thanks for dropping it in the comments!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I have always known that meditation is very beneficial but for some reason, I overthink when I do it. thanks for this post. That ASAP Science video is amazing too.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
ASAP Science is awesome! I wish I could say I knew them... But they only went to my school :( we aren't real life friends.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
The fact that you went to the same school is a start. You can say hi to them. They look like nice people.
Followed you. :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks! Followed you back. Looking to forward to learning more about Africa and wine.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hey, I meditate every day with visualisation. I learned to do t for 30 days to create a shift :-)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
That's cool that you are doing meditation with visualization. I have never really tried it that way. I tend to do the "vipassana" meditation I mentioned above, which means just paying very close attention to one's experience.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Also, thank you for the resteem @sarahewaring! That was kind of you!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Your welcome! I am not great at mediating without visualisation. I need to practice that :-)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Meditation is great stuff! I am a long-time practitioner. Meditator? Do we have a good word for that? Anyhow, thanks for the great post, and I hope it helps more people get started with meditation.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I hope so too! It seems intimidating for people when they first start, but it's easy with a little guidance. Thanks for the support!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
This post is sponsored by @appreciator in collaboration with #steemitbloggers. Keep up the good work
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I listen to guided meditations every night to fall asleep (and deal with different habit developments, etc) and one upon waking every day. Even though I already do that, it would probably benefit me to take a break in the day and do one then as well! Great post, I'll check out the links you posted in case I find something I like as much as I like my current app!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hey @byn! Good to hear from you again today. I'm happy to hear you already have a meditation practice. It's such a good way to spend one's time wisely.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Meditation is super nice but you can only yield the benefit when you are consistent. #Vipassana is a Buddhist practice.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You are right. One session might relax you, but you won't get the long-term benefits. You get the most out of it when you truly commit to the practice.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks for the post, @chrismccrom!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks for reading!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I did meditation once many years ago. It was during a church retreat. I remember it was very calming and I loved it a lot.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You should give it another go maybe! If you liked it before, it might be good again. Meditation is a lot like prayer for many people.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I believe it requires you to close your eyes? I might fall asleep LOL. I usually pray with my eyes open XD
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Lol well... Fun fact! You can meditate with your eyes open. It's totally acceptable. So you're good!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Great post! Meditation is truly life changing. I am currently on a 22 day meditation streak and feel so clear-headed.
I love your content and inspirational post. You have my support for sure! I would love it if you checked out my page, I am new to Steemit and post high quality content about life, yoga, mindfulness, and more.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Good for you for maintaining a 22 day streak!
I like yoga a lot as well. It's a lot of fun and a good challenge.
And sure! Followed you to check out your content. Have a good day!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
This post has been selected for curation by @msp-curation by @clayboyn and has been upvoted and will be featured in the weekly philosophy curation post. It will also be considered for the official @minnowsupport curation post and if selected will be resteemed from the main account. Feel free to join us on Discord!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hey! Thanks so much! I appreciate the support. It really helps out. I'll check out your discord and read more about what you do.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
@originalworks
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
The @OriginalWorks bot has determined this post by @chrismccron to be original material and upvoted it!
To call @OriginalWorks, simply reply to any post with @originalworks or !originalworks in your message!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Congratulations @chrismccron! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPDownvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit