Meditation: It Can Carry You Through Life’s Toughest Transitions
Monday, January 25, 2010 11:46By Ellen Brown
As I often tell clients and friends (and anyone else who will listen), meditation can help us weather some of life’s toughest storms. While it’s hardly a magic bullet, meditation can help us feel more relaxed and peaceful, and medical studies have suggested that such practices may lessen anxiety, depression, and insomnia, which many of us experience during difficult times.
I, personally, don’t know where I’d be without meditation. It’s one of those practices I’ve been committed to for years, and I can’t imagine giving it up.
A few months ago, my meditation practice was a God send, when I was watching my beloved father-in-law, John, who had Alzheimer’s disease and terminal cancer, slip away a little bit more each day. Every day when my husband and I returned from visiting John at the nursing home, it was so comforting to pull up my meditation cushion and just sit, watching my thoughts drift by like clouds in the sky.
On some days, my experience wasn’t quite that serene. But I did my best to accept what was happening and allowed myself to be with whatever feelings emerged … And while my meditations didn’t change the fact that John was dying or in pain sometimes, my daily practice helped ease MY pain.
If you’re interested in meditation but believe it’s too time consuming or difficult, not to worry. Meditation doesn’t have to be about sitting on a cushion for hours on end. You can decide how much time to devote to the practice, whether that’s five minutes or an hour. And you can even sit in a chair, if you find it more comfortable than a cushion.
Meditation can take many forms, including:
- Auditory meditations, involving music or guided meditation
- Visual meditations, which may involve the creation of mandalas or other works of art
- Traditional forms that involve sitting still with your eyes closed and following your breath or observing your thoughts, without judgment, as they pass through your mind
- Moving meditations such as yoga, dance or walking
One of my favorite books on the topic of meditation is Kat Tansey’s Choosing to Be. This beautifully written book revolves around a wise Maine Coon cat, his kitten muse, and author Kat Tansey, who take the reader on a challenging and often times amusing journey from the disorienting haze of depression to the freedom and clarity of Buddha mind. I often recommend the book to my coaching clients who are dealing with difficult life transitions, because it’s inspiring and lightened with humor and reminds us that we have the power and strength to transcend whatever we’re facing.
So, how has meditation helped YOU, as you’ve dealt with a difficult life transition, or how do you think it COULD help?
What kind of beliefs do you have about meditation that may be preventing you from giving it a try?
What are your favorite books (or audio resources) on meditation?
I’d love to hear what you have to say. Please join in the conversation by leaving a comment here on Stepping Stones.
Are you dealing with a challenging life transition? If so, I’d love to help out. Visit my website at http://tinyurl.com/yc7meqo to sign up for an introductory coaching session or a coaching package that’s right for you. Since coaching sessions are conducted by phone, I can work with clients anywhere in the world.
Ellen Brown is a certified professional coach, based in Cleveland, OH.
Kat Tansey says:
January 25th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Thank you, Ellen, for sharing the wisdom of the Feline Zen Master. Writing this book saved my life, and it is my hope that it will help people get past the often daunting idea of meditating — and just ease down into what works for them.
Ellen Brown says:
January 25th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
My pleasure, Kat. Choosing to Be does what you describe and so much more!
Randall Krause says:
January 25th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Thank you for sharing how meditation helped you and can help others. I too have found meditation to be immensely helpful. For example, many years ago, shortly after teaching myself to meditate, I sat for the California Bar Exam (yes, I wanted to be an attorney). During the exam, my mind became so tired that I simply could not think, and there was still a half day to go on the exam. Faced with this situation, I closed my eyes and meditated for about ten minutes. When I opened my eyes again, I was able to continue with the exam and completed and passed it. Meditation also helped, later, when facing the stress of practicing law. Actually, I’d say that if it were not for meditation, I would not have been able to practice law because of the stress.The meditation neutralized the stress.
There is another reason to meditate besides its obvious beneficial effects. Within each person, there is a treasure. Called the “Inner-Beloved”, the “Holy Ghost”, or any of countless other names, this inner-treasure is the source of love, of wisdom, of life itself. Most of us do not sense this. Yet this does exist within each of us, and meditation is the key to open the door to experience this treasure.
The goal of the spiritual science of Yoga is to uncover and experience this inner-treasure. Most people think Yoga is a form of exercise, and few know that Yoga is meditation. Yoga-meditation usually is done sitting and often uses a mantra to help concentrate the mind. It is through the practice of meditation that the great yoga sages brought their minds to a single point and through doing so experienced the Inner-Beloved. The opportunity to do this is open to everyone.
Renee Ludwigs says:
January 26th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Thank you, Ellen, for sharing your personal experience with meditation. I’m a big believer in the power of meditation too. It has helped me through many rough patches in my life. Thanks for letting people know that meditation can take many forms. I think a lot of people are afraid to try it because they think it has to be done a certain way. Love your blog!
Carla says:
January 31st, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Hi Ellen! I am gradually becoming more persuaded of the benefits of meditation, though I admit I struggle to know where to start. Thanks for your points and for recommending Kat’s book- sounds like that might be my “starting point.”
Thanks Ellen!