WAKING UP TO PEACE: BENEFITS OF MORNING MEDITATION
Whether you are a morning person or not, mornings are a pivotal time in your day. We often set the tone for our entire day with the first thoughts that hit us. If you are like me, the first thing you reach for in the morning is your phone (to check the time) but before you know it, you’re caught up in messages, requests, to-do lists. It can be overwhelming to remember the sheer amount of things we have to do, obligations to fulfill, before we are even fully awake. Ideally, mornings should be a time of calm, when we can take a breath, let the sunlight trickle in and think about life, spirituality, or God. With hectic modern lifestyles, most people need a little help to accomplish this, and meditation can be just thing.
Reasons to Meditate in the Morning:
Fewer Distractions: If you allow yourself a little time before checking your email, phone, or beginning other activities, mornings are the quietest time of the day, free from distractions and responsibilities. It’s hard to find another time of day quite so ideal for meditation.
Impaired Judgement: It’s harsh, but our judgment is impaired first thing in the morning. We really should not be making decisions about how to deal with stressful life situations, best spend our time, or answer that friend before taking the time to wake up, breathe, and center ourselves.
Higher Energy: Meditation releases endorphins, which boost your energy as well as lighten your emotional burdens. Many people notice that they feel more awake and alert without the need (or as great a need) for caffeine.
Builds Focus: A few minutes of meditation in the morning can build your focus, allowing you to be more productive and check more things off your list than you could have if you jumped right into your day.
Spam Filter: Your mental defenses aren’t up yet first thing in the morning. Meditating gives you the chance to put up those defenses. By centering yourself, you subconsciously begin to filter out the petty and negative things, things that don’t align with what’s important to you.
A Sense of Wellbeing: Life is stressful. The American Psychological Association reported that the majority of adult Americans are suffering from moderate to high stress. Meditation won’t change your schedule or the demands on your time, but it can change the way you feel about it. Helping you to head out in the morning feeling capable and inspired.
“The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
- Albert Einstein
Here are some links to meditation music you may enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbMRVU-w9Fc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXH-QsPTeEI
Or if you prefer, some guided meditations you can try:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EaMJOo1jks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBQNWkbl2_w
There are also free meditation apps you can download for daily use. Below are some of the most highly rated:
Mindbody
Insight Timer
Smiling Mind
Sattva Meditations & Mantras
Stop, Breathe & Think