Discover Meditation for Inner Peace: Peaceful Mind, Peaceful Life

Introduction

The world has started opening up to the idea of meditation. Many celebrities, entrepreneurs, and doctors recommend you to add meditation to your daily routine. While meditation has a number of advantages, one of them is that it helps you achieve inner peace. Practicing meditation regularly can help you achieve calmness and clarity along with better emotional, mental, and physical well-being. In this article, I will be able to help you start your journey toward using meditation for inner peace.

“The more regularly and the more deeply you meditate, the sooner you will find yourself acting always from a center of peace.” ― J. Donald Walters [1]

What Is Meditation For Inner Peace?

When I was a kid, and someone would talk about meditation, I would start imagining the Buddhist Monasteries with the sounds of bells and chimes playing in the air and some people sitting crossed-legged, looking absolutely still calm.

We are all so used to running a race in our lives that we forget to take a pause. I don’t know even a single person who does not want peace in life. Inner peace can mean different things to different people. For me, inner peace involves feelings of happiness and balance within me. Once I have been successful in creating a state where, whatever the situation, I remain calm, I will feel inner peace, which I can spread outward as well.

However, it surely means not having to worry about anything. One of the most amazing ways to find inner peace is to use meditation- learning to focus on the present and keep the mind calm in every situation. While there are a lot of people who have made meditation a money-making gimmick, genuine teachers and practitioners will be a testimony to how much strength and peace they have gotten by getting more in touch with themselves through meditation.

Problems will always be a part of life, but with meditation, you cannot only reduce the impact of the problems but also find a lot of health benefits. Meditation can involve techniques like focusing on your breath, repeating a mantra, or visualizing peaceful images. Over a period of time, you can notice that your anxiety and stress levels have reduced, your focus and concentration levels have increased, and you are able to feel calmer and more content in your life [3].

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How To Discover Meditation For Inner Peace?

You might stumble upon meditation either through the recommendation of a doctor or a friend or through some movie or TV show. However, before you start, consider the following steps [3] [4] [5]:

Step 1: Do your research. Read about the different types of meditation and find one that you are able to relate to.

Step 2: Find out about a local class or group that teaches meditation. That way, you can learn from a teacher and practice with the group. United We Care is a platform that has a wellness program for meditation.

Step 3: You can do further practice using an app or a recording from your teacher for guided meditation. United We Care is a platform that can provide some guided meditation videos that you can use.

Step 4: Start small with probably 5-10 minutes sessions. But, you can gradually increase the time but do it every day.

Step 5: The process of developing the skill of meditation takes time, but it takes consistent effort. So be regular and have patience.

Initially, during your journey, you might feel that your mind is going to different places and not staying in meditation. In fact, that’s absolutely fine. Don’t push yourself to ‘try’ meditation. Your focus should be on doing nothing. The highest state of consciousness or awareness lies within each of us as human beings. By doing nothing, you can allow yourself to become spiritually awakened [4] [5].

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What Are The Benefits Of Meditation For Inner Peace?

Meditation, if done correctly, can work like a miracle. I am a testimony since I have practiced meditation for the last five years. This miracle can be on physical, mental, and emotional levels [6]:

1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety: When you start practicing meditation, you will notice that your anxiety and stress levels start going down. You will notice that you are more calm and relaxed. Over time, you will start feeling absolutely at peace, irrespective of the situation.
2. Improves Mental Focus: You know how they say ‘practice makes a man perfect?’ With consistent practice of meditation, you will notice that your concentration levels and focus are amazing. That way, you can be more in the now, the present. The more you are day focused on the present, the easier it will be for you to find inner peace.
3. Enhances Emotional Well-being: By doing meditation consistently, because you are able to find peace, you will be able to manage your emotions which are otherwise difficult to manage, such as anger, fear, and sadness. When you are able to manage these emotions, your ability to fight any situation that may come your way increases, helping you develop a sense of inner peace and calmness.
4. Improves Sleep: The best result of meditation is that your sleep quality goes up. Since I started practicing meditation, I am able to sleep the moment I hit the bed. Earlier, I used to stay in bed and not be able to sleep for a good 2-3 hours. Meditation can also help reduce your insomnia.
5. Boosts Immune Function: Since the time that I started practicing meditation, my physical illnesses have also started reducing. I used to have allergies and would frequently get infections, spoiling my immune function. Through meditation, these illnesses have reduced significantly, and in some more time, I feel that they will all get cured permanently.
6. Enhances Self-Awareness: I used to keep my problems and issues only to myself and not let go of the hurt that I’ve faced. By practicing meditation, I learned how to let go of the emotions and events that hurt me. From negative self-talk, I went to only talking positively and firmly to myself. I moved a step closer to inner peace.

What are Some of the Types of Meditation for Inner Peace

If you thought there is only one type of meditation, then let me burst that myth [7]:

1. Mindfulness Meditation: The meditation you do by focusing on the present moment while focusing on your breath is called ‘Mindfulness Meditation.’ By practicing this meditation, over a period of time, you will become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment.
2. Loving-Kindness Meditation: Meditation also helps in generating self-love. That is possible through a meditation called ‘Loving-kindness Meditation.’ Using this meditation, you can direct feelings of love, kindness, and compassion toward yourself and others.
3. Transcendental Meditation: You might have seen people using some kind of mantra or chant to meditate. This sort of meditation is called ‘Transcendental Meditation.’ Using a mantra can help you go deeper into your subconscious mind and become more and more aware of yourself and your surroundings.
4. Yoga Meditation: Did you know yoga can be used for meditation as well? Well, it’s true. The combination of physical postures, breath control, and mental focus that are a part of yoga can work wonders in promoting relaxation, relieving stress, and finding inner peace.
5. Guided Meditation: Doing meditation all by yourself can be tricky and might not give you the best of the results. However, a meditation where you are guided by your teacher, either in person or through a recording, is one of the meditations that are proven to be super successful. This involves following the guidance of a teacher or a recording to help you visualize a peaceful scene, release tension, and cultivate inner peace.

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How to Get Started with Meditation for Inner Peace?

If you’re new to meditation and want to get started with meditation for inner peace, here are some steps you can follow [8]:

Step 1: Every day, you can keep a dedicated time aside for meditation, even if it’s just 5 minutes initially.

Step 2: Look for a space where you won’t get disturbed, and you can sit comfortably.

Step 3: Sit comfortably and straight, preferably cross-legged. But, if that’s not possible, you can sit on a chair with your feet firmly on the ground. Remember to be relaxed and not tense.

Step 4: Place your hands facing upwards on your thighs and start focusing on your breath. Begin by taking slow, deep breaths.

Step 5: You may notice that your thoughts are not stable, and many thoughts are pouring in. That is absolutely normal. You can notice the thoughts and then bring your focus back to your breath gently.

Step 6: Meditate every day, even if it’s for a few minutes.

Conclusion

Meditation is a powerful practice. Through regular practice, you can change your entire life, mentally, emotionally, and physically. You can experience joy, peace, and relaxation. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to meditation, you can explore many techniques and methods to find what works best for you. Remember, the practice of meditation is a journey, not a destination. It takes patience, time, and commitment to develop the skill.

If you want to start your meditation journey, join United We Care’s meditation and mindfulness program specially curated for you.  You can also reach out to our wellness experts for more guidance.

References

[1] “61 Quotes About Meditation and the Mind,” Order Your Life, Jun. 14, 2023. https://orderyourlife.com/blogs/blog/61-quotes-about-meditation-and-the-mind

[2] N. P. Sharma, “From Inner Peace to World Peace: Buddhist Meditation in Practice | Journal of International Affairs,” From Inner Peace to World Peace: Buddhist Meditation in Practice | Journal of International Affairs, May 24, 2020. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/joia/article/view/29089

[3] “Advanced Meditation Programs – Being Spiritual Foundation,” Being Spiritual Foundation, Jul. 22, 2019. https://www.beingspiritualfoundation.com/services/advanced-meditation-programs/

[4] “How To Meditate,” How To Meditate. https://innerpeacefellowship.org/how-to-meditate/

[5] [1]“Do Nothing Meditation – Meditating With Minimal Effort,” Do Nothing Meditation – Meditating With Minimal Effort, Aug. 25, 2022. https://www.anahana.com/en/wellbeing-blog/do-nothing-meditation

[6] “A beginner’s guide to meditation,” Mayo Clinic, Apr. 29, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858

[7] D. K. Thakur, “Meditation: A way of complete living,” International Journal of Yogic, Human Movement and Sports Sciences, vol. 78–81, no. 1(1), 2016.

[8] “How to meditate – 8 tips to get started,” Art Of Living (India). https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/meditation/meditation-for-you/8-tips-get-started-meditation