The Importance of Daily Meditation in Today’s America

We Americans are living in a time of informational contradictions: Covid cases are improving but Covid cases are also on the rise. It’s OK to eat a meal in a restaurant without wearing a mask but one must wear a mask if out on a public street. Holiday get-togethers must be limited to but a few close family members yet it’s acceptable to travel on a crowded plane so that you can visit your family for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The rules and restrictions surrounding the pandemic are constantly changing and often conflicting. Is it any wonder that confusion abounds in our daily lives?

With winter approaching, most of us are pretty much confined to home and being indoors. While some are able to fill their days with work or hobbies, too many remain constantly tied to their televisions in an effort to keep up with all that’s happening. Because of this, we are a nation steeped in information overload and I believe this only adds to our confusion, anxiety and stress.

More than ever we must rely on our inner resources to help us navigate through this informational maze and it’s no easy task. As far as the pandemic is concerned, we must ultimately decide for ourselves what an acceptable risk is and where we must draw the line for our own safety. But our health is not limited to our physical bodies; we also have to think of our mental health during this time of increasing stress and anxiety.

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” – Helen Keller

When the constant noise of the media gets to be too much, try turning off the television, the iPhone, and the computer for a period each day. Find a peaceful place in your home where you can sit quietly, hit your personal pause button and take a few deep breaths. It will cost you nothing but time, yet the benefits of this simple practice, performed on a regular basis, can be profound.

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” – Amit Ray

Just try to focus on your breath and sit quietly with yourself for as long as you feel comfortable or, if you prefer, set a timer for 20 minutes. Breathe in, breathe out, repeat. Offer up a silent prayer if that helps to quiet your mind or mentally repeat a phrase that evokes positive feelings. You can also visualize a place or time in your life that brings you joy or comfort. The point is to allow yourself a peaceful respite from the worries of the day.

“So what is a good meditator? The one who meditates.” – Allan Lokos

If sitting quietly isn’t your thing, find a peaceful place to be outdoors. Weather permitting, I love to take a 30 minute walk outside and commune with nature, taking in all the sights, smells and sounds. To me, walking in the fresh air and sunshine is the most restorative meditation of all!

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” – John Burroughs

If you find yourself suffering from increasing stress or anxiety related to our current national circumstances, you’re not alone! I hope you’ll give a simple meditation practice a try as a means to bring some peace and comfort back into your life. Although meditation won’t make your problems go away, it will help reinforce your inner strength to cope.

Until we get through these difficult times and come out on the other side, I wish you all the gift of good health!

“The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow