It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.

Rene Descartes

Meditation is the art of silencing the mind. When the mind is silent, concentration is increased and we experience inner peace in the midst of worldly turmoil. This elusive inner peace is what attracts so many people to meditation and is a quality everyone can benefit from.
What are the Benefits of Meditation?

I’ve been meditating twice a day for the past 9 years because I enjoy it. It may seem strange, but I feel happiest when sitting in perfect silence. The experience is difficult to express in words. It is akin to the “peace that passeth understanding”. It is also true that every meditation is not the same. Sometimes meditation is a struggle to control the mind, while at other times it feels effortless.

These are some of the benefits of meditation:

1. Improved concentration - A clear mind makes you more productive, especially in creative disciplines like writing.
2. Less bothered by little things - Do you sometimes allow yourself to get upset by little things? It is the nature of the mind to magnify small things into serious problems. Meditation helps us detach. We learn to live in the here and now, rather than worrying about the past or future. We do not worry about meaningless things, but see the bigger picture.
3. Better Health - There have been numerous studies pointing to the health benefits of meditation. The reason is that meditation reduces stress levels and alleviates anxiety. If we can reduce stress, many health benefits follow.
4. Knowledge of Self - Meditation enables us to have a deeper understanding of our inner self. Through meditation we can gain a better understanding of our life’s purpose.

Is Meditation Religious?

The great thing about meditation is that our philosophy/religious belief is not important. Meditation is about consciousness. The beliefs of the mind become trivial. We dive deep into the heart of the matter to gain access to our soul - our inner reality. Therefore, mediation can (and is ) practised by people of different religions or no religion.

But I don’t have time To Meditate

Many people like the idea of meditation, but feel they don’t have enough time. When you really want to do something you can find time. Get up earlier or watch 30 minutes less TV. Meditation requires an investment of time, but clearing the mind makes the the rest of the day more productive. Nothing is better than the feeling of inner peace. What is the point in being tremendously busy but unable to enjoy it? Meditation is not about retreating from the world; it gives us inspiration. Whatever you do, if you have peace of mind, your work will be more enjoyable and productive.
How To Meditate

Like anything worthwhile, meditation requires practice. To get the most from meditation you need to do it every day. This requires a place and time where you will not be disturbed.

1. Sit with a straight back. Don’t try to meditate lying down because you are likely to fall asleep. Meditation brings relaxation and peace but at the same time this is a dynamic peace. Meditation is quite different than the relaxation of sleep. When we really meditate, we are fully alert and conscious. Our sense of awareness is heightened. Afterwards you’ll have a positive feeling for the world and a renewed sense of dynamism.
2. Don’t eat before meditating. After a heavy meal your body will be lethargic with digestion.
3. It is not necessary to mediate in the lotus posture. It is fine to meditate in a chair, as long as the back is straight.
4. It is helpful to take a shower before meditating.
5. Burning incense and having a candle are not necessary, but they can add a little extra inspiration.
6. It is good to meditate early in the morning. It is said the best time is 3am, although, I feel it is more important to be awake and not sleepy, I meditate at 6.30am.

One Pointed Concentration

However you learn to meditate, you must learn to concentrate on one thing at a time. Usually, the mind tries to hold several different thoughts and ideas at once. When you sit down to meditate for the first time, you realize how cluttered the mind is. Mediation teachers have described the mind as a “mad monkey”. However, the mind can be tamed and forced to concentrate on a single thought.

One helpful technique is concentrating on a candle flame. Narrow your gaze to the small tip and block out all other thoughts. When you get distracted, go back to focusing on the candle flame. You can also use other objects like a small dot or flower. The important thing is that you concentrate only on one thing at a time.

Mantra

Another way to learn concentration is through the use of mantra. A mantra is the repetition of a sacred word. For example, you might repeat the mantra AUM a certain number of times. Repeating a mantra forces the mind to focus on a single thought.

Silent Mind

After you’ve practised concentration and learned to focus on one thing at a time, you can proceed to the next stage: no thought at all. Achieving a silent mind is difficult, but when to attain it the experience is powerful. A technique I advise is viewing your thoughts as separate from your self. When a thought appears, make a conscious decision to throw it out of your mind. Over time you realize that you are capable of allowing or rejecting thoughts. Your real “I” is not a collection of thoughts, but something far deeper. This is the most significant realization of meditation - that you do not have to be a slave to your thoughts.

Through meditation, you attain the power to control your thoughts, and on occasion stop them completely. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t attain a silent mind straight away. It takes time and practice. There is nothing really else to it; meditation is a simple and spontaneous action. Unfortunately, our mind is used to complication and it takes time to unlearn bad habits.

post written by Tejvan Pettinger.

Let no man imagine that he has no influence. Whoever he may be, and wherever he may be placed, the man who thinks becomes a light and a power.

Henry George (1839 - 1897)

Defer not till tomorrow to be wise, tomorrow's sun to thee may never rise.

William Congreve (1670 - 1729)

We shall show mercy, but we shall not ask for it.

Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965), speech in the House of Commons, July 14, 1940

When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is any thing you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.

Edgar Watson Howe (1853 - 1937)

It’s REALLY difficult to wake up in the mornings for some people – a lot of people, in fact. We often wander through our day bleary-eyed and with dark circles under our eyes. As busy adults, we’re perpetually starved for sleep. What’s at the root of this problem? Everyone has a circadian clock, which is an internal body clock that keeps you on a schedule. After a weekend of sleeping in, it can be really difficult to change your wake-up time to an earlier hour because your circadian clock has been programmed to sleep late and ignore the alarm clock.

However, by getting to bed on time and consistently waking up at a set hour, you can reset this clock in as little as a few days. First of all, go to bed at a reasonable hour every night. If you’re staying up late to watch your favorite shows, think about investing in TiVo and watching your programs when you actually have time (like on the weekends). Once you figure out how to get to bed at a reasonable hour, it’s time to give yourself a set time to wake up, too, even on the weekends. Don’t groan – you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel when you get on a regular sleep cycle.

By Jennifer Gruenemay

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.

Marcel Proust (1871 - 1922)

Personal development and growth is probably, aside from diets, the most written about topic you will find today. There are nearly limitless articles and books, self help tapes and CDs that all target our innate desire to change in ways we perceive as “better”. Most self-help projects today are scams try to convince u of the limitless riches we can attain if we unlock out personal powers. This usually involves buying something and the only thing here growing is the huckster’s bank account. Others offer self-assessment guides to determine just what about ourselves is wrong and needs improvement. These skirts are the true issues surrounding personal development and personal growth.

Personal development and personal growth are concepts that take into account the realistic fact that life changes as we live it and we must both grow and change to be equal to the challenges. As we leave adolescence behind and become adults, we are expected to be able to build our own lives and to weave a fabric of living that will expand with the changes we encounter. We may do this by choosing to develop a productive career or to have a family or by a combination of both, but it is generally not acceptable to not develop a path in life. The steps taken toward achieving these goals often force changes on us, and require that we grow and develop more skills to deal with them. This is the philosophy behind self-help.

Many people have come up with exercises and tips that have been useful to them, and will allow individuals to understand and to meet the various stages of his or her life. Some even prepare us in advance for these milestones, such as childbirth, marriage, and developing a career. Another form of serious self help, often takes the form of counseling or support groups, and targets those who have fallen behind in these stages or who left the loop entirely, such as alcoholics and drug addicts. These support groups often stress the stages of life, and recommend that the participant take a virtual journey through them to recreate where and how they began to falter. The next step is to try to reintegrate the addict into life at an appropriate stage.

One important aspect of growth and personal development is to clearly see what you want and expect from life. It is important to make these goals, even though they often change throughout the course of life, with and without out intentions. These goals are often enough for some lucky people to steer a steady course.

However many of us need more at some point. Growth and development programs and philosophies that enable us to focus on the positive aspects in out lives and formulate a positive and productive attitude are strong empowering elements. An optimistic attitude has been shown to be beneficial to all areas of life, from achieving success to fighting termini illness. It is often noted that optimists often fail more frequently in life that those with a more negative attitude, they just don’t incorporate the failure into their self-image, which continues to shine brightly. Doctors repeatedly cite the better prognosis that patients who remain optimistic about their treatment often enjoy. The power of positive thinking is no myth, and those programs and books that keep us in touch with this concept are valid tools for personal growth and development.

Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.

Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)

Mistrust the man who finds everything good, the man who finds everything evil and still more the man who is indifferent to everything.

Johann K. Lavater

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962)

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.

Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.

Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.

"We told them so.""Crazy men and their crazy dreams.""It`s foolish to chase wild visions."
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.

He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.

It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.

For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.

Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.

Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.

Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.
Have a top Day!

When we are unable to find tranquillity within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.

Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613 - 1680)

Sometimes you can't see yourself clearly until you see yourself through the eyes of others.

Ellen DeGeneres