Less Stress In College
Simple meditation techniques can help you find a calm center through the turbulence of life. Imagine gliding through mid-terms and finals week feeling happy, calm, centered, focused and performing at your absolute best. It is possible if you apply some simple meditation techniques.
College life can be stressful. Cramming for exams, writing papers, dealing with difficult roommates and romantic challenges, it is hard enough when these happen one at a time, but often you are called upon to juggle all at once.
Generally, people tend to attempt to resolve life dilemmas in the same manner in which they would repair a mechanical problem. They look at the variables, analyze the situation and try to manipulate outer circumstances to resolve the issue in their favor. While it works great for fixing cars, this approach to life is problematic. Life circumstances are always in flux, there are no rules, other people besides you are trying to improve their circumstances, and their wishes are often in opposition to you achieving your objectives.
The key to breaking free and finding inner happiness in any situation is to simply change your perspective. The suffering you feel is the result of your identification with your outer circumstances. As long as your self-image is dependent upon your GPA, the car you drive, the person you date, you are vulnerable to having your mind, your emotions, your very sense of self whipped around by the turbulent changes of life.
The ancient practice of meditation is a way to still the thought waves of the mind and develop the ability to find a calm and peaceful center even in the most difficult of circumstances. Through practicing meditation, you learn to stop identifying with your thoughts and emotions and gradually develop an awareness of another part of you. Yogis call this the Inner Self. You may have heard it described as the Higher Self or the Witness.
The Inner Self is the neutral observer of your life. If you picture your life as a movie being projected onto a screen, you would see the Inner Self seated in the theater watching. The Inner Self is in a constant state of sat chit ananda, a Sanskrit term meaning being, consciousness, bliss. This is the natural state of a human being. The mind and emotions obscure this state and create experiences of fear, anger, sadness and upset.
Conscious breathing is a simple meditation practice that anyone can do anywhere at anytime. It is best to start out practicing it in a quiet, clean space where you can sit undisturbed for 30 minutes. Sit on the floor or upright in a chair with your spine straight, chin level, feel your weight evenly distributed on your seat bones. You should feel stable and relaxed, not stiff or clenched. Take a couple of deep breaths and let go of your tensions. Release your day, set it aside for the next 30 minutes. This time is for you. Find a point of visual focus. It can be a spot on the floor just in front of you, or you can use a piece of sacred art, an inspiring picture, perhaps of a nature scene, or a photo of a beloved spiritual figure. Relax your gaze. Dont stare. Its okay if your eyelids close slightly. Now turn your attention to your breathing. Notice it going in and out. Feel the air move into your nostrils. Feel it fill your lungs. Feel the pause before you exhale. Feel your lungs relax, feel the breath leave. Keep following the breath. Stay present with it. Dont try to change it. Let it be what it is. You may notice your mind is having thoughts. Thats okay. Just notice, Oh, thinking, and return your attention to the breath. If emotions come up, let them come up and let them go. Go back to the breath.
If you practice this everyday for 30 minutes, you will begin to develop a greater awareness of the Inner Self. Life will still bring challenges, but you will face them with a calm, centered clarity of mind that will help you resolve situations gracefully.
For extra support and the opportunity to learn more meditation techniques, you can join a meditation group or class in your area. Often you will find meditation instruction offered in conjunction with a yoga center or ashram.
Shelley Ladin and Rhoda Geller, college career coaches specializing in working with high school, college and graduate students and professionals in achieving their career and life goals.
Visit the coaches at http://www.collegecareercoach.com
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