Meditation is a practice that involves training the mind to focus and achieve a state of calm and relaxation. It can take many forms, including sitting meditation, walking meditation, and guided meditation. The goal of meditation is to quiet the mind, focus on the present moment, and achieve a sense of inner peace.

What Can Meditation Help Us Achieve?

Meditation can help us achieve a wide range of benefits for both the mind and body. Some of the main benefits include:

1. Stress reduction: Meditation promotes relaxation and a sense of calm, which helps to reduce stress and anxiety in our lives. It can also help to decrease the production of the stress hormone cortisol if done consistently over longer periods of time.
2. Improved focus and concentration: As you master the art of meditation, it trains the mind to be more present, focussed and less easily distracted.
3. Increased self-awareness: Deep reflection and introspection are some of the key goals of meditation and when achieved, they can help to increase self-awareness and a deeper understanding of one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
4. Improved emotional regulation: Meditation has been known to help us improve our ability to regulate our emotions. As we improve our meditation practice, we feel an improved sense of emotional balance and stability. It can also help to reduce feelings of anger, fear, and sadness.
5. Improved physical health: While not an overly physical activity in itself, meditation has been shown to have a positive impact on our physical health by reducing blood pressure, improving heart health, and reducing chronic pain.
6. Increased compassion and empathy: Meditation promotes feelings of kindness and understanding towards others, which in-turn helps us be more compassionate and empathetic.
7. Improved sleep: When our stress and anxiety levels reduce through our practice of meditation, we also find ourselves experiencing improved sleep quality.
8. Increased creativity and problem-solving skills: Meditation helps us develop an open and flexible mindset which boosts our creativity and problem-solving.

Different Types of Meditation

Meditation can become a very personal practice or ritual, but it’s great to start with some structure so we can discover what type of meditation works best for us.

Here’s some of the most common forms of meditation:

Sitting Meditation

Also known as “formal” meditation, involves finding a quiet place to sit and focus on one’s breath. This can be done with eyes closed or open and can involve counting the breath or simply observing it. This type of meditation is meant to focus the mind and bring awareness to the present moment.

Walking Meditation

Believe it or not, you can meditate while walking. This involves taking a walk and focusing on one’s steps and the sensation of walking. It’s a way to bring mindfulness to movement, allowing the mind to focus on one’s body and the physical sensation of walking.

Guided Meditation

As meditation becomes popular on social platforms and podcasts, guided meditation has become one of the better-known methods of this ancient practice.

It involves listening to a recording that guides one through the meditation. This can include guided imagery, visualization, or even a simple narration. This type of meditation is often used for relaxation or stress management.

There are many different forms of meditation, and the best one for you may depend on your personal preferences and lifestyle. It’s important to find a form of meditation that resonates with you and to practice regularly to achieve the most benefits.

Meditation is not about emptying the mind of thoughts, but rather about observing them without judgment, and returning to the present moment, and it has been shown to have many benefits for both the mind and body.

Incorporating meditation into one’s daily routine can lead to numerous benefits, both physical and mental. With regular meditation practice, individuals can learn to live in the present moment and develop greater self-awareness and personal growth.

Understanding the Importance of Self-Honesty

Self-honesty is a rare commodity these days. People are weaker, easily offended and will find any way they can to justify their failings in life.

Sinister people at the top with nasty agendas also promote messages that are designed to fool people into believing that their shortcomings are normal and that they are fine where they are.

It’s easy to control a population that’s weak, poor and has no purpose.

One prominent example is the fashion industry using overweight models in their advertising.

These days, being overweight is made to appear inclusive, normal and almost fashionable. It’s all done under the guise of self-acceptance, self-love and an ‘antidote’ to fat shaming.

Is it any wonder then that over 70% of America is overweight or obese?

No one is talking about the adverse consequences of having a population that’s fatter and sicker than ever before.

There’s an absolute lack of honesty among the masses today. Anyone who tries to state the obvious is deemed a ‘hater’ and attempts are made to ‘cancel’ them.

• Why you can never fool yourself

Fortunately or unfortunately, the universe is set up in a way where worthy goals that give you a sense of purpose require effort and sacrifice. Anything that’s easy to achieve lacks value.

Most people can gain weight easily. Trying to achieve a sculpted and lean body is difficult. That’s why the latter is valued and a fit silhouette turns heads.

Wealth is difficult to build. It takes years of work and risk. The symbols of wealth such as fast cars and mansions are coveted – while no one gives a second look at a Toyota Prius.

This is the way the world is… and no matter how much the masses try to change the way we view things, it will always stay that way.

We only value what’s difficult to get and what is scarce. That’s what makes success coveted and rare.

It doesn’t matter if you’re overweight… or broke… or unhappily single. The story you tell yourself and the world may feel good on the outside and the mask you wear may fool the world – and even you. But this feeling is ephemeral.

When the illusion fades, you’ll hit reality hard.

In times when you’re by yourself, feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy may arise.

This is your soul and conscience crying out to you. It wants you to do more. It knows you deserve better. Your inner truths are prodding you to save yourself rather than believing the lies. Progress is happiness.

• How self-honesty frees you

The moment you’re honest with yourself, you’ll feel a sense of relief… and maybe even regret.

But self-honesty is not about being judgmental. It’s not about punishing yourself for your past mistakes or calling yourself a loser.

Self-honesty is acknowledging that you’ve slipped up in certain areas of your life. You could have done more and done better – but you took the easier path. That’s ok. All humans naturally seek the path of least resistance.

But you want more than the hand that life has dealt you. Your heart has desires that are still unquenched.

Self-honesty will make you realize that you may have failed yourself in the past – but there’s still hope for you. You can turn your life around.

Ask yourself what you want in life and pursue your goals relentlessly.

You’re overweight? – No problem. You’ll eat right and exercise until you look great.

You hate your job and your meagre salary? – Pftt! No problem. You’ll learn new skills and provide more value to society until you’re paid what you’re worth.

You’re single and can’t find a partner? – Easy. You’ll go out and meet more people and improve your social skills until you’re desirable to the opposite sex.

Knowing where you currently are and understanding that you’re not happy with your situation is the first step of self-honesty.

Knowing what you want in life is the second step of self-honesty.

Pursuing your goals without giving in to weakness and believing society’s usual excuses for underachievers to make them feel good is the third step of self-honesty.

Once you know what you want and are willing to pay the price to achieve it – you’ll never settle for less. Self-honesty is cathartic, rewarding and will transform your life for the better.

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan

Conflict Resolution

Conflict is an inevitable part of life, whether it’s in our personal or professional relationships. Its how we handle conflicts that makes all the difference in the outcome.

Effective conflict resolution is the process of resolving disputes between two or more parties, and it is a critical skill that is necessary for effective communication, teamwork, and overall success.

Here’s 5 steps we can take to achieve effective conflict resolution:

1. Identifying the Source of Conflict

The first step in effective conflict resolution is to identify the source of the conflict. This can involve understanding the different perspectives of the parties involved and identifying the underlying issues that are causing the conflict. Without understanding the root cause of the problem, it will be difficult to find a lasting and meaningful solution.

2. Open and Clear Communication

Once the source of the conflict is identified, it is important to establish clear and open communication with the other parties. This can involve actively listening to their perspectives, being honest and transparent about your own feelings and opinions and being willing to compromise and find common ground.

3. Exploring Potential Solutions

The next step is to explore potential solutions to the conflict. This can involve brainstorming different options and considering the potential benefits and drawbacks of each. It is important to keep in mind the interests and concerns of all parties involved and to find a solution that is fair and equitable for everyone.

4. Implementing Solutions

After potential solutions have been identified, it is important to implement them in a way that is effective and sustainable. This can involve setting clear and realistic expectations, creating a plan of action, and establishing a system for monitoring progress and addressing any issues that may arise. It’s important to involve all parties in this step and to be flexible and willing to adjust as needed.

5. Follow-Up

It’s important to follow-up after the conflict is resolved to ensure that the solution is working and that the parties involved are satisfied. This can involve regular check-ins and monitoring the progress. It’s also important to address any new issues that may arise.

Types of Conflicts and Conflict Resolution Approaches

Conflicts can be resolved not only between individuals, but also groups or organizations. They can be of different types, depending on the parties involved, the issues at stake, and the context.

Some conflicts are more complex than others and may require different approaches. Here are a few examples of different types of conflicts and the most appropriate approaches to resolving them:

1. Interpersonal Conflicts

Interpersonal conflicts are those that occur between individuals, and they are inevitable in life. Resolving interpersonal conflicts can be done through negotiation, compromise, or assertiveness.

2. Group Conflicts

Conflicts in a group or organization are common. The best way to resolve them is through group discussion, mediation, or arbitration. It’s important to involve all members of the group and to work on the group dynamics.

3. Structural Conflicts

The structure of an organization or a system can be the root cause of many conflicts. In order to resolve structural conflicts, policies and procedures need to be reviewed and changed as required.

4. Societal Conflicts

These are conflicts that occur between different groups or societies. Opening up dialogue, negotiating, and/or mediating are effective ways of resolving societal conflicts.

5. Ideological Conflicts

In world full of varying beliefs and ideologies, ideological conflicts are common. They can often be resolved through education, negotiation, or compromise.

Conflict resolution is a critical skill that is necessary for effective communication, teamwork, and overall success in both personal and professional relationships.

It involves identifying the source of the conflict, establishing clear and open communication, exploring potential solutions, implementing them effectively, and being willing to make significant adjustments, as needed.

While it can appear to be challenging, effective conflict resolution is possible with thee right approach and mindset. This will result in improved relationships, greater understanding, and more effective problem-solving.

Remember, it’s important to understand the different types of conflicts and the most appropriate approaches to resolving them.