It seems that everywhere we look there is something to worry about, something to do, or something to fix.
As soon as we are done fixing one problem, another pops up to take its place.
We have a society of people who are living their lives in perpetual stress until their next vacation or weekend event.
I’m sure that you’ve asked yourself more than once: ‘When is this all going to stop?’
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just flip a switch and become another person altogether, a person without all of the problems or stresses that life seems to inevitably pile on top of you?
This is where meditation enters the picture.
Unfortunately, meditation is often misunderstood.
Most people think that meditation has to be peaceful.
Although peace can be part of the experience, the true goal of meditation is to change one’s identification.
When we start to release the ideas placed upon us by ourselves, the society around us, or our upbringing, we become free to experience life as it is – stress and all.
Not how it should be.
With practice, meditation becomes a place where we are unconditionally allowed to exist, free from any expectation or achievement.
As this state grows, it may feel peaceful, loving, blissful, or joyous.
The states of happiness are myriad, but most importantly, at some point, they start to move outwards and blend into our lives.
This growing happiness creates a buffer between us and our stress. We are then able to see our problems with greater perspective, as if being caught in the eye of a tornado, instead of on the outskirts of it, to be whipped around in a violent fashion.
The beauty of meditation is that when we realize our true self, the peace that comes with it interweaves itself into every future experience.
Even when we are in the midst of our problems, we can be no other than our true self.
A simple way to start meditating is to take a few minutes every day to sit and watch your breath.
When your mind becomes active, centre yourself back on the breath.
When problems or worries come up, reassert your attention back onto the breath.
In time, this process will become natural, and you will find that your mind will have an easier time letting go of worries, stresses, and thoughts.
With practice, greater relaxation will be yours.
Jason Gallant is a teacher and healer at Seeds of Life. He has published a book Awakening with Arathi Ma.