There are times in our lives when our stress, anxiety, or depression increase to the point where we lose sight of ourselves and what’s important. A fantastic way to maintain balance in our lives is through meditation. Meditation is more than just sitting still and humming. Mediation is all about thinking and focusing on your inner thoughts with minimal distractions. But before we get into too much about mediation, let’s discuss its history.
History of meditation
The earliest documented meditation record was a Hindu tradition in India around 1500 BCE. However, historians believe it has been around for a lot longer. The precise location of its origins is hard to place. Meditation has always had a strong relationship with Buddhism and Taoism. It is frequently used in eastern cultures to find meaning, enlightenment, and inner peace.
While meditation isn’t tied to a particular religion or faith, it is still practiced across different cultures. Mediation wasn’t introduced to western cultures until the 18th century, and it was primarily a source of study for intellectuals. While contemplative prayer was popular within Christianity and Catholicism, meditation didn’t start to gain popularity until the 20th century. Over time it has been researched, discussed, and brought into our day to day life.
What are some of the different types of meditation?
There have been numerous studies that suggest there are mental and physical benefits to meditating. Meditation is a valuable technique to help align your thoughts, reduce stress, and improve anxiety. There’s no type of meditation that works for everyone, but there are different types you can try. Here are some of the more popular types of meditation.
Mindfulness Meditation
You can do Mindfulness Meditation anywhere as long as you’re paying attention to your thoughts. While many people prefer to meditate in silence, Mindfulness Meditation can be done anywhere. You hold no judgment over what passes through your mind and observe any patterns. Listen to the world around you and pay attention to your experiences. Mindfulness Meditation can reduce negative thoughts, improve focus and increase relationship satisfaction.
Spiritual Meditation
If you’re having trouble understanding your place in the world, you might like to try Spiritual Meditation. Spiritual Meditation focuses on developing knowledge and understanding of religion and spiritualness. You are looking for meaning and connection to a higher power. Most individuals will use Spiritual Meditation while engaging in contemplative prayer or participating in services.
Movement Meditation
The act of blending movement and meditation is the preferred meditation method most people use. Movement Meditation allows your body to focus on how your limbs, muscles, and bones move to new positions. The most common form of Movement Meditation is Yoga. As you go through the different positions, you aim to stay in the moment and pay attention to your body and thoughts. Movement Meditation is beneficial for people who suffer from chronic pain, anxiety, or depression.
Loving-Kindness Meditation
Getting rid of negative emotions can be difficult, and the Loving-Kindness Meditation technique can help you accomplish this. Every time you have a negative response to someone, you can repeat a positive sentence repeatedly in your mind until you start to believe it. People who practice Loving-Kindness Meditation are open to receiving loving kindness and giving it out freely. This type of meditation helps increase positive thoughts and decrease/manage negative ones.
If the types of meditation don’t apply to you, there are many different techniques and strategies available for you to explore.