While meditation has a strong reputation as a stress buster,
not many of us can manage to sit there and do nothing—even for a few
minutes. Recently, government officers in Central India were
ordered to practice daily meditation for 20 minutes during work hours. The move
was meant to help them de-stress, but many complained that the forced silence
was actually more upsetting than healing.
If only the administration had thought of these fun, easy
ideas that can help you revive your happy self without the slightest stress:
Smile meditation: Sit in a comfortable corner or lie in bed.
Close your eyes, and smile. Conjure up positive, happy images in your mind, as
if turning the pages of a family album. If you’re lying in bed at night,
imagine that you have an open sky overhead, filled with brilliant stars. If you
meditate before getting out of bed, stay there awhile, eyes closed, and imagine
that the sun is pouring gentle gold on your entire being. Keep your eyes
relaxed and your jaw muscles loose. Don’t worry about how long your meditation
should be. Just think of happy things, and smile.
Candle meditation: why is ‘candle meditation’ done anyway?
Simple: it helps you focus your restless mind on a moment. And the flame of the
candle is a vital element of nature: composed of fire and light. Place a lit
candle on a low table, and sit cross legged before it. Gaze at the candle for
as long as you can, without blinking; try for 30 seconds or one full minute—it
does not matter. Eyes watering a little? No worries. When your eyes feel tired,
close them and imagine the flame in your mind’s eye.
