Hello, and welcome to the Leadership Done Right Podcast, Episode 57: Finding Peace Through Meditation.
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Hi friends! I am back home from Washington D.C. and am getting back into the normal grind of life. The conference I went to was an exceptional conference with wonderful speakers and a fantastic exhibition hall. What was even better than all that was the chance that I had to network and connect with great people.
Tip of the Week
That brings me to the tip of the week. Always be prepared to get to know new people and network with them. When I talk about networking, I am referring to just getting to know people. Don’t be fake, put up a front, or try to be someone you are not. Instead, be your honest and true self.
Also, be a good conversationalist by asking focusing your attention on the other person. Ask them about their life. What are they excited about? What drives them to be their best self? What are their dreams and passions?
As you are sincere with people and truly work to get to know them, they will gain your trust and confidence. That’s where the saying comes in that people do business with those that they know and trust. They will also follow the leader they know and trust. So when you network, be your true self, learn about the other person, and don’t just push your agenda.
Sneak Peek
Alright, in today’s episode, we’ll discuss how to meditate and the benefits of regular meditation.
A Story of Meditation
Before we get to that, I want to share a story I pulled from the website called The Guided Meditation Site by Caz also known as Victoria. She said:
I began meditating ten years ago. Here’s my journey to meditation and a fulfilling, happy life.
Unhappiness
I thought I had a wonderful life, great kids, beautiful house, attentive husband everything that money could buy, but I wasn’t happy! I kept asking myself “What is wrong with you? You have everything you want, be happy”! I started to become very anxious and stressed because I should be happy right???
I tried everything, going to counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists, only for them to tell me that I was the most sane person they had met, so why wasn’t I happy???
I found myself hopelessly lost in the depths of despair, having random panic attacks and developing chronic fatigue and displaying the symptoms of MS. I often said to myself, “What is going on here, I’ve always been a confident, outgoing, life of the party kind of girl, how could this happen to me”?
Recognized the Need for Change
The day I found myself screaming at my kids for some minor issue was the day I realised I needed to change. I went out and borrowed countless personal growth books, dvd’s and cd’s, I attended workshops and totally changed my lifestyle.
The Start of Meditation
I began meditating every day, the particular meditation that helped me the most was one in which you create a special safe place in your mind, my special place was in a jungle beside a waterfall, surrounded by nature and gentle animals, here I was totally accepted and free. I found that when I went to my special place during meditation I could think clearly, I developed the ability to trust my intuition and made some life changing decisions.
Satisfaction from Meditation!
Now 10 years on I am a Life Coach & Personal Trainer and I conduct weekly meditation classes for my clients to ensure that they are given the time and space to “find themselves and the freedom of clarity”. It is my passion to motivate and encourage people to achieve fulfilment and happiness in life and I believe that meditation is one of the most important tools in my toolbox.
Yours in happiness & health
Caz
How To Meditate?
Welcome back! There are many ways that people meditate. Each person seems to have their own unique approach, but there are some common steps to follow.
Create the Right Setting
Before anything else, it’s important to find the right setting. Find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. Now, if your household is any thing like mine, you may be thinking, “With kids constantly interrupting, phones ringing, or alerts popping up, how can I possibly find a quiet place?”
That’s where the next point comes in. Find a quiet time. If you are a morning person, wake up a little earlier to meditate. If nights are better, then do it at night. The key, do it at the right time for you!
The Act of Meditating
Here’s a meditation exercise that will introduce meditation techniques.
- Sit or lie comfortably.
- Close your eyes.
- Make no effort to control the breath; simply breathe naturally.
- Focus your attention on the breath and on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation. Notice the movement of your body as you breathe. Observe your chest, shoulders, rib cage, and belly. Simply focus your attention on your breath without controlling its pace or intensity. If your mind wanders, return your focus back to your breath.
Additional Tips
Here’s a few other tips on meditation from the book The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod.
- Before beginning your meditation, it’s important to prepare your mindset and set your expectations. This is a time for you to quiet your mind and let go of the compulsive need to constantly be thinking about something — either reliving the past, stressing or worrying about the future but never living fully in the present. This is the time to let go of your stresses, take a break from worrying about your problems, and be fully present in this moment. It is a time to access the essence of who you truly are — to go deeper than what you have, what you do, or the labels you’ve accepted as “who you are”—which most people have never even attempted to do. Acessing this essence of who you truly are is often referred to as “just being.” Not thinking, not doing, just being. If this sounds foreign to you, or too “new-agey” that’s okay. I used to feel the same way. It’s probably just because you never tried it before.
- Remember, this is a time for you to let go of your compulsive need to constantly be thinking about something. This is a time to let go of your stress and take a break from worrying about your problems. This is the time to be fully present in this moment.
- Continue to follow your breaths, and imagine inhaling positive, loving, peaceful energy, and exhaling all your worries and stress. Enjoy the quiet. Enjoy the moment. Just breathe… Just be.
Benefits of Meditation
There are many benefits of meditation. Hal Elrod also explained that, “Study after study shows that meditation can be more effective than medication. Studies link regular meditation to changes in metabolism, blood pressure, brain activation, and other mind and bodily functions. It can alleviate stress and pain, promote sleep, enhance focus and concentration, and even increase lifespan.”
The EOC Institute explains 141 Benefits of Meditation. Some are slower aging, master stress, great sleep, strengthen immunity, increased longevity, aid digestion, and so many others. The biggest benefit I have experienced is just more calmness in my life.
Wrap-up
Thank you for listening to this episode of the Leadership Done Right podcast. You can check out the show notes at LeadershipDoneRight.com/PodcastEpisode57. I will include an outline of the topics we discussed and related links.
If you would like to listen to the next episode of this podcast, please subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or whatever other podcast platform you use. You can also check out the full list of episodes and platforms with this podcast at LeadershipDoneRight.com/LDRPodcast.
Thanks again for listening! My goal is to help you become a great leader, now go be the best leader you can be!
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