MEDITATION TIP OF THE WEEK

MEDITATION TIP OF THE WEEK IS A WEEKLY SERIES OF EASY TO REMEMBER, SHORT AND BASIC TIPS ON MEDITATION. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK, IS IT HELPFUL?

Meditation works easily when we’re sitting on our cushion, free from any immediate worries or concerns…and even then it can be exceedingly difficult! But what about when we’re in a state of fear or panic, what then??

As we discussed in the Tip of the Week two weeks ago, “Don’t Wait Until the House is Burning Down…,” it’s vital that we know how to meditate before situations arise that challenge or overwhelm our mind beyond our abilities. One way to become secure in the face of fear is to meditate with those fears in mind…when we’re not encountering them.

So, how do we do this? It’s easier than you think and you’ve probably already thought about it! When you sit down to meditate (not every time), after you’ve settled into your practice, try to invoke/imagine/visualize a situation that scares the heck out of you and simply work with your mind, again and again, to create an atmosphere of stability within your mind. Easy? No way!! Necessary? Absolutely!

Look, it’s like this: you’re going to encounter things in your life that challenge or scare you. That’s a fact! How do you want your mind to be during those moments? Do you really have anything to lose by not preparing yourself now? After all, we buy car insurance, life insurance, prepare for retirement all for the purpose of being prepared, just in case. Speaking of which…

In a post titled, Meditating With Death in Mind (memento mori!), I suggested that you take on the subject of death – yours or a loved one’s – as a way to engage in a powerful method of meditating on what scares you the most. While this may be more than you need to work with in order to engage in what scares you, it’s an example of how we can use our meditation practice as a means to being more present in the world when fears or challenges arise. Meditate on them!

For more ideas on how to meditate on what scares you, also check out the post, How to Meditate When Fear Takes Over, Five Important Things to Remember…

Enjoy!