Meditation

We can look at it in exactly the same way as we can look at our physical health. If we do not take care of our physical body and we demand a lot of it, we might find it a struggle to do what we have to do. But if our physical body is fit and healthy and its capacity is strong, then we put demands upon it or ask things of it,  it is much more likely going to be able to fulfil those things.

Our mind is very much the same, look at training in meditation as what we might call training in mental fitness. There isn’t necessary a correlation of what we ask and our capacity at a mental level. But stress is most certainly in part caused my a continual or habitual demand which is placed upon us where our resource is not consistently able to meet that demand. That anxiety, I might not have enough energy to actually do what is being asked of me. Nothing overwhelms us more than that feeling that it might be too much for me to handle. And it may well be if we are not in a particularly well-organised state.

So, If you look at it like physical exercise is to the body. Meditation is exercise of the brain. If someone where to say right lets go for a 10 mile run before breakfast, this may cause you to enter stress if you are not fit enough for such a demand. But if you are fit you might think that is a wonderful idea. 

If you are asked to meditate, sit there concentrate on breathe for half an hour before breakfast, if your mind is fit, you may think this is wonderful. But if your mind is scattered, restless, agitated, anxious, worried, you might find this idea extremely stressful.

But if you work at it, in the same way that you if you were to start running half an hour each morning, and gradually build up on your running all week. 

We can do the same thing with meditation. 

Whatever your capacity of concentration or mindfulness is right now is not your potential, it is only your capacity right now. 

That capacity is a reflection of how well-organized and fit you are mentally. 

Just as we train to increase of fitness and enable us to run for longer, the practice of meditation will increase the fitness levels of our brain. 

That mental muscle will start to serve you. It will function much more effectively and efficiently. 

The approach to meditation is an approach to mental health. A healthy mind, a harmonious mind. 

We all too frequently fight with the brain, thus it is one if not the most important muscle to ensure we maintain its optimum health.