Michael Thomas Sunnarborg

Michael Thomas Sunnarborg

Find Michael's blogs syndicated on the following sites:

Meditation? You’re Already Doing It.

Meditation? You’re Already Doing It.

MichaelSunnarborg / March 05, 2018 Article, Image, Link / Leave a Comment

Okay, so meditation. Right. Got it. It helps people to relax. That doesn’t seem so difficult. You just sit down and breathe for a few minutes, right? Or what do you do, exactly… and why are people saying that it’s so important?

First, let’s get one thing straight. If you don’t think you’re meditating because you are not sitting on a yoga mat with your legs crossed chanting Sanskrit, I’ve got news for you: You’re already doing it.

Do you ever sit down, take a deep breath, and calm your thoughts? Ever listen to really good music while you’re working outside, cooking dinner, or cleaning the house? Ever brainstorm with a group, paint a picture, play a musical instrument, or write a poem?

Then you’ve been in a form of meditation, my friend.

The key to meditation is focus. Meditation comes naturally when we shift our focus to being present—when we release our minds from our thoughts and reconnect with our inner being, the source of our natural spiritual energy. Meditation relaxes us and puts us in a natural state of flow, which is the key to unlocking the doors to our creativity.

Sure, there are formal meditation practices, but I’ve found others. I can clearly identify three types of meditation that I practice on a daily basis to some degree: still, moving, and creative. And depending on the setting or circumstance, any or all these forms of meditation can be done alone or with others. Here’s how I describe each:

Still Meditation

A traditional form of meditation using deep breathing; sitting still in a comfortable position with eyes closed; and clearing the mind of thought and/or focusing on a key thought, phrase, or word (mantra) to focus the energy.

Benefits: Reduces stress, relaxes the mind and body, supports feelings of relief, calms “inner chatter,” and expands awareness. Drawbacks: Requires time; a large amount of patience (even for 15 minutes); and a quiet space without distractions—not even music. Best option: Early mornings; before bedtime; during weekends, vacation, down time; or in times of great indecision or challenges.

Moving Meditation

The practice of getting centered by allowing your thoughts to flow freely while moving the body—perhaps walking, running, exercising, doing housework, etc.

Benefits: Reduces stress, gives a physical/mental/spiritual outlet for energy to be released from the body, supports improved mood, stimulates creative thinking and problem solving. Drawbacks: Requires time, outdoor locations or larger spaces (if indoors), and may require equipment or supplies. Best option: Early mornings; during the day (maybe during lunch); after work; weekends; or on days when ideas need to process.

Creative Meditation

Getting “in the zone” by immersing yourself into creative flow—allowing new creative ideas to come to you by using techniques like brainstorming, free writing, and possibility thinking.

Benefits: Generates new ideas, allows for creative expression, taps into creative intuition, and welcomes coincidence and creative collaboration. Drawbacks: Can be time-consuming, may hit creative roadblocks and stalemates, and may require collaborative input from others to be most effective. May also require larger blocks of time or minimal disruptions to stay in the creative flow. Best option: Best used when creating new ideas, solving challenges, inventing a new product or service, or strengthening collaboration with others.

Meditation? Sure! Whatever kind of practice works for you. The act of relaxing while focusing your thoughts, letting go of distractions, and allowing yourself to move into your creative flow will always benefit you—regardless of what you call it.

Michael Thomas Sunnarborg helps people find clarity and balance in all areas of life. Learn more at michaelcreative.com

Enjoyed this article? Find more of Michael’s stories, insights, and life lessons in Bald Men Don’t Use Hairspray and Other Assumptions, or another one of Michael’s books at michaelcreative.com/books

Image: Pexels.com

An original version of this article appeared on HuffPost.

All content is copyright © Michael Thomas Sunnarborg. All rights reserved. Original content may be shared via links through email and social media—or shared as "fair use" as either brief quotations or in a review—but otherwise may not be duplicated or copied in any other form without expressed written permission from author.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *