Meditation for stress relief and personal development

[DavidS]

I've noticed a lot of posts on this forum - as well as interactions in the wider world - from people who are very stressed by their lives, and think that the answer is to either get angry or violent, take fluoxetine or some other substance - legal or otherwise, or run away from their problems in some fashion.

I have come to realise that the daily practice of meditation can be an enormous help in dealing with the day to day stresses and upsets of life.

I have meditated daily for many years and can vouch for its effectiveness. Quite simply and gradually, life becomes so much easier and clearer.

[Pharmanaut]

I've noticed a lot of posts on this forum - as well as interactions in the wider world - from people who are very stressed by their lives, and think that the answer is to either get angry or violent, take fluoxetine or some other substance - legal or otherwise, or run away from their problems in some fashion.

I have come to realise that the daily practice of meditation can be an enormous help in dealing with the day to day stresses and upsets of life.

I have meditated daily for many years and can vouch for its effectiveness. Quite simply and gradually, life becomes so much easier and clearer.

A walk after evening meal does the same thing.
Clears the mind, the lungs and aids digestion.
Better than collapsing in front of the 'mind control apparatus', or television as it is more commonly known.

[DavidS]

A walk after evening meal does the same thing.
Clears the mind, the lungs and aids digestion.
Better than collapsing in front of the 'mind control apparatus', or television as it is more commonly known.

Interesting you mention TV, and I share your views. Further, I would say that when you sit in front of TV you are in a passive meditative state, and all the adverts - and the rest of the junk - have a direct route into your subconscious, where they influence your behaviour in a very efficient clandestine way.

Meditation for stress relief is not passive, it is active. But not active like a walk in the park. Active in the sense that the mind is controlled and directed - eventually, anyway. I would say that the benefit of meditation would far exceed those of a walk in the park, but doing both is a really good idea too!

[the old merlin]

Keeping a diary helps.

[admin]

To be honest I think that stress is the new backache - nobody can see or prove it, they just have to take your word on it.

I had a friend who used to say basically "I'm having a week off - I'll just say it's stress again".

If you are happy to go to your GP, fake symptoms, cash prescriptions that you'll never take etc then I guess you can live with yourself.

However.......I have never had a job where there wasn't either a medical form or actual medical (never involved much). I have always had to answer the question "are you, or have you ever, suffered from any mental health issues". I want to always be able to honestly answer no to that one - especially if they are also looking at your medical records which you have to agree to in order to get a job with some companies.

If meditation works instead of the Dr route then great. I like to play on my PC - we all have our toys.

And the stress we talk about is nothing compared to what our ancestors went through - wars, hungar, disease etc etc

I think we take for granted the things in life that are so hard for others to achieve, like food, clean water, a roof to keep the rain out, a decent education! We have a lot of brilliant stuff in all our lives.

My advice is stop whining and get on with life - it's too short to worry about things you can't change (like the past) so always look forward. If you have any bad memories from say your childhood, just slam them in a metal box and weld it shut - forever! It won't do you any good opening it - ever.

Ok I'm off to meditate for hours - or is that sleep....?

Waiting for the resident shrinks backlash........

[the old merlin]

Admin, is the fact that you are posting at 1am indicative of overwork and consequent stress?

[admin]

Admin, is the fact that you are posting at 1am indicative of overwork and consequent stress?

No it just means it's Saturday night and I don't go to bed early.

[DavidS]

Waiting for the resident shrinks backlash........

who would that be!

I'm not, not, not saying that hobbies, pursuits, walks are not valuable ways of balancing your life. Those who pursue such pursuits are always going to have a more balanced life than those who don't.

What I am saying is that they are not as efficient or as thorough as meditation, which is a technique which transforms the mind, and thereby changes your life.

[Sir_Dispensalot]

i prefer to go online and kick seven shades of digital snot out of my opponents soldiers/wizards/big hairy orcs/supervillains.

The only downside is when lady_dispensalot threatens to cut the power cord on the computer!

Have taken to keeping a spare hidden away just in case

[admin]

who would that be!

What I am saying is that they are not as efficient or as thorough as meditation, which is a technique which transforms the mind, and thereby changes your life.

I like my mind as it is thanks. I don't want it changing or my life - except for wads of cash coming my way for little or no effort of course.

I agree with Sir Disp - get on the PC and frag someone at a Quake style game (the more realistic the better) or watch Dexter and fantasise it's you chopping up the bad guy, or........hey wait, don't want to give all my secrets away!