Category Archives: meditation

Distinguishing between want and need…

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…wherever I am, let me never forget to distinguish want from need.

Barbara Kingsolver, High Tide in Tucson

The last 6 weeks (or so) have reminded me of the Barbara Kingsolver quote. As I look in my closet, I see a lot of things that I thought were needs but were really only wants.

I spend almost all of my time at home following shelter in place and social distancing rules. When I go out, the trips a quick and I wear old clothes that go into the washer when I get home.

I spend a lot of time in Zoom meetings, but I only have to look good from the waist up. Shoes and jewelry are superfluous. (I’m starting to teach tai chi and yoga again online, but those don’t require an extensive wardrobe.)

My current credit card bills show me how much — or how little — I really need.

But those things that I thought I needed have needs of their own — to be managed, and cleaned, and cared for. They require resources, space, and energy.

…increase of worldly things make men poor not rich, because every worldly thing hath a need annexed to it.

Bishop Stephen Gardiner (1483–1555)

When the current restrictions end — and we find our new normal (the old normal is gone) — I hope I remember to distinguish between the two.

And I’ll end with another quote from Barbara Kingsolver…

…Want is a thing that unfurls unbidden like fungus, opening large upon itself, stopless, filling the sky. But needs, from one day to the next, are few enough to fit in a bucket, with room enough left to rattle like brittle brush in a dry wind.

Barbara Kingsolver, High Tide in Tucson

Are You Tired of the “Happy Birthday” Song?

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Recite the Metta Meditation as You Wash Your Hands

If you are tired of singing the Happy Birthday song as you practice good handwashing technique, use that time for a short meditation break.

Metta Meditation

May all beings be happy.
May all beings be healthy.
May all beings be free from suffering.
May all beings be at peace.

Repeat the meditation twice slowly and mindfully. (If you are inclined to rush, repeat it three times.)

The Benefits

In addition to the benefits of good handwashing, using the Metta Meditation calms and refocuses mind and body.  It sends positive energy into a world that desperately needs it.

The Research

Namaste

Mindfulness Matters

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Mindfulness Matters—
Can Living in the Moment Improve Your Health?

January 2012

At some point in your life, someone probably told you: “Enjoy every moment. Life is short.” Maybe you’ve smiled and rolled your eyes at this well-intentioned relative or co-worker. But the fact is, there’s something to it. Trying to enjoy each moment may actually be good for your health.

The idea is called mindfulness. This ancient practice is about being completely aware of what’s happening in the present—of all that’s going on inside and all that’s happening around you. It means not living your life on “autopilot.” Instead, you experience life as it unfolds moment to moment, good and bad, and without judgment or preconceived notions.

“Many of us go through our lives without really being present in the moment,” says Dr. Margaret Chesney of the University of California, San Francisco. She’s studying how mindfulness affects health. “What is valuable about mindfulness is that it is accessible and can be helpful to so many people.”

Studies suggest that mindfulness practices may help people manage stress, cope better with serious illness and reduce anxiety and depression. Many people who practice mindfulness report an increased ability to relax, a greater enthusiasm for life and improved self-esteem.

One NIH-supported study found a link between mindfulness meditation and measurable changes in the brain regions involved in memory, learning and emotion. Another NIH-funded researcher reported that mindfulness practices may reduce anxiety and hostility among urban youth and lead to reduced stress, fewer fights and better relationships.

A major benefit of mindfulness is that it encourages you to pay attention to your thoughts, your actions and your body. For example, studies have shown that mindfulness can help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight. “It is so common for people to watch TV and eat snack food out of the box without really attending to how much they are eating,” says Chesney. “With mindful eating, you eat when you’re hungry, focus on each bite, enjoy your food more and stop when you’re full.”

Finding time for mindfulness in our culture, however, can be a challenge. We tend to place great value on how much we can do at once and how fast. Still, being more mindful is within anyone’s reach.

You can practice mindfulness throughout the day, even while answering e-mails, sitting in traffic or waiting in line. All you have to do is become more aware—of your breath, of your feet on the ground, of your fingers typing, of the people and voices around you.

Chesney notes that as people start to learn how to be more mindful, it’s common and normal to realize how much your mind races and focuses on the past and future. You can just notice those thoughts and then return to the present moment. It is these little, regular steps that add up and start to create a more mindful, healthy life.

So, before you roll your eyes again, take a moment and consider mindfulness.

FROM: http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/Jan2012/Feature2