Now that I’ve been writing this blog for six months, I thought it might be helpful to reiterate my perspective. I teach meditation and write about it from a mental health point of view. What that means to me is to create endurance, strength, agility and power in our cognitive processes.

In my experience, meditation exercises our brains differently than our normal activities do. By sustaining a theta brain wave (similar to the state we experience upon wakening or right before sleep), we are practicing endurance for being open to new ideas, tolerating the “gray” areas of life.

Photo by Flickr user longtrekhome

By holding onto the meditative state, we are developing strength, which can improve our ability to concentrate and give our best in any situation. And by continuing to refocus our brains when we wander off “thinking” we’re training our brains to be agile. We realize we have choices in how we think, what we think and when it’s helpful not to think.

Ultimately the endurance, strength and agility we gain from meditation empowers us. I find I get clarity in situations faster than I used to and I’m able to express that clarity with strength. The other day I heard a criticism of something I’d written. I took a deep breath and went inside. I immediately sensed what I needed to take from the criticism that was helpful and what had nothing to do with me.

As with physical exercise, it’s beneficial to have a regular practice and to set goals. To help with this, see one of my early blogs, “Fundamentals of a meditation practice.”

Next week I’ll offer a guided meditation: “Meditate on your highest goal.”

As a mental health professional, an owner of a fitness studio, a writer and a wife, mother and grandmother, I have found meditation to be helpful in every aspect of my life. Let's talk...You can contact me at susanmmorales@yahoo.com or check out my websites: susanscottmorales.com and bodiesinbalancefitness.com