The Two Main Forms Of Meditation

There are two main forms of meditation. While there are millions of variants of these forms, the main ones are mindless meditations, also known as no- mind meditation and mindful or mind- focused meditation. While both of these forms of meditations have their own psychological benefits and are focused on going within and finding the gifts and joys available of the unconscious and collective mind, there are some minor variations in techniques and what a person wishes to achieve through practicing meditative states. While learning about meditation, there is no need to fixate on one or the other, explore what works for you as an individual.

A mindless meditation is a meditative state where you are in a state of just being. You are moving beyond your alert and active state of mind into a realm of consciousness that transcends the reality in which you are grounded. Most practitioners of mindless meditation are working towards a total and complete release of ego. This means the mind needs to be taught to be non-judgmental. Mindless meditation does not imply carelessness. It is an extreme meditation where you dissolve your pre-existing states of reality and witness what is as it is without judgment or preconceived notions. Essentially your mind and ego mesh into a new form and you are awed and inspired by the nothingness of it all and the interconnection that everyone has here on Earth, with every living creature. It is a paradox to say the least, but well worth the efforts if you are able to achieve it.

Mindful or mind-focused meditations include guided meditation, visualizations, opening up of the chakras, and use things you may concentrate upon while meditating. You may use recordings to walk you through mindful meditations or perhaps be guided by a yoga instructor or alternate teacher of meditations. The difference is you are focusing your energies on something, be it a soothing voice or an image. During mind-focused meditations the seeker wishes to improve the mind, not dissolve into it. Many fears or toxic energies can be tackled using mindful meditations. Self image can be explored and changed. Roadblocks can be removed. You can learn how to fill your body up with positive energy using mindful meditation and become very relaxed throughout your day. Mindful meditation can be done with your eyes open, multitasking. When you get good at it you can trigger yourself into mindful meditation with a word or an image.

Both types of mediations can get you where you want to go. Some people prefer one over the other, but ultimately they are tied into the same goals and purpose. There are hefty claims made by so-called gurus of one way being better than the other, but for the novice or individual person it is all dependent on where you want meditation to take you and why you are learning to meditate. There is no reason you can not experiment with both types of meditation and research meditations that work for you and you alone. There is no absolute right or wrong way to meditate.

Steve has traveled the world as a consultant and engineer in the food processing industry developing automated packaging systems. In 2005 he had 3 back surgeries that left him in extreme pain and on massive dosages' of narcotics, he spent most of his time on the floor and in a daze (hooked on drugs). He refused to live that way and started studying self healing. He spent over 2000 hours studying and got certified as a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Time Techniques Practitioner, Emotional Freedom Practitioner, Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner, and a Success Coach. As well as becoming registered as a Minister. Through the use of these techniques and self healing he is off all drugs and is able to do most of the things he wants. He spent a year working with patients, but felt he needed to help more people find the way to change their lives.

Power Of The Spirit

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Top 7 Ways to Get Yourself Motivated

A man sits slumped in the seat, his right hand hovering over the computer mouse. His laptop lays open before him, a document left unfinished on the center of the screen. As hours tick away, he can feel his last few ounces of motivation seeping out of him, draining his desire to work.

The TV flashes and continues its rhythmic monotone in the next room across the hall. The man glances at the corner of the glittering TV screen visible through the open office door. His mind becomes captivated with thoughts of putting his work aside and joining the couch in front of the TV, where his heavy eyelids can surrender to a nice, long nap.

Is Procrastination Getting in the Way of Your Business?

Do you ever feel like the man above, knowing you must make progress but dreading the work to follow?

Maybe you have a pressing deadline ahead or a product launch coming up. Depending on the project, what you get done can make a huge impact on your career.

Motivation is a crucial element in the success of your business. It can make a difference in how well you work and the results you see in the coming months. Without it, not only will you lose productivity, but you can completely halt progress. Work will become a chore. Obstacles and challenges will become unbearable because you won't have the willpower to keep going.

What if I told you that there is a way to consistently stay motivated day after day, giving you the creative energy to make more progress and achieve your business objectives?

You can tap into an unlimited source of motivation again and again. You just have to know how.

Get Motivated

Finding motivation isn't always easy, but it can be done if you have the patience and discipline to make it happen.

The following are a few ways to get you started.

Define your purpose.Think of your big WHY, or the reason that drives you to do something. Why should you complete that project? Are there consequences of not getting the job done on time? What will you gain once the project is completed? Use these answers to help spur you on. As you work, remember your reason for working and what will happen after you've completed the project at hand.
Set actionable goals.There's no point of working if you don't know how you'll complete the project or even what the end result will look like. Having a plan prevents you from getting confused later on, and you can keep working knowing that you'll achieve something in the long run. Use both short and long-term goals, creating actionable steps for each. When you get stuck, refer to your goals to stay on track. It also helps to set deadlines for each goal and reward yourself after every milestone. You'll then always have an incentive to make progress.
Get your friends and family involved.The more people who know about your goals, the more support you'll receive along the journey. Getting other people involved is also a good way to hold yourself accountable for your goals, increasing the likelihood that you'll see each task until completion.
Keep it stimulating.Change the scenery or find something new to capture your attention. Instead of working in your stuffy office all day, take your laptop outside and enjoy the fresh air. Mixing it up can keep you refreshed and change the way you feel about your workload.
Take occasional breaks.Let's face it: If you work for hours on end, you'll eventually crash. It's hard for your body to keep functioning in an optimal way if you're overworked. Take a small break after every work hour, especially on a long workday.
Don't procrastinate.Complete your goals one step at a time. Don't try to do everything at once or put the work off until the last minute. Doing so will cause a heap of stress, and you risk not meeting crucial deadlines. Separate your work into tasks, and complete each task at a time.
Read or listen to motivational material.The Internet is flooded with case studies, success stories, interviews, podcasts and inspirational articles, with hundreds of motivational books and magazines at your local library. You can also listen to inspiring music during your breaks that will move you to action, like Perpetuum Mobile by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

You'll achieve great results as you progress, but know that you aren't alone. Results come with action, so start making things happen.

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The Do's and Don'ts of Making a New Year's Resolution

It's that time of the year again when thoughts go forward to the dawn of a new year and the possibilities to change your life that come with it. With thoughts of wiping your life slate clean and starting over you may be making several resolutions again this year. Think back to this time last year and ask yourself what the chances might be for your success this time.

If you recall many years of failed resolutions then follow these guidelines for ways to make this then year when you set a resolution you keep and achieve.

What not to do:

Be vague about what you want to achieve. Promises to yourself that you will succeed with the weight loss or the fitness goals you want to be happier and healthier are likely to fail again.

Set goals which you could never achieve. It's good to aim high but you need to be realistic about what could be possible too in relation to your current lifestyle, your age and fitness.

Don't plan anything and expect that somehow or other you'll find the motivation and time to do the exercise classes, go to the gym or buy and prepare healthier food. It just won't happen on its own.

Keep it a secret from those close to you. If you don't tell them what you are planning to d they won't be able to support and encourage you to reach your goals.

Things to do:

Be as specific as you can be. You need to set yourself a very specific amount of weight you want to lose and spell out exactly what you plan to do raised your chance of success this time.

AIm high but not too high. Be inspired by other people's success especially if they are a similar age and fitness level as you.

Keep a diary both to plan your new routines and to journal the ups and downs of your journey of change. Planning when you can introduce new routines into your day and then writing when you plan to do what is both motivating and enables you to move forward with your goal achievement successes.

Share your challenges with other people: those nearest and dearest in your family or amongst your friends. Also find others to form a support group with others facing similar challenges is a great way to keep going if you face some setbacks and encourage you to get back on track.

Download '15 Ways to change your life' from http://www.youcanchangeyourlife.co.uk/ and discover ways to make a difference to your life.

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