Does Meditation reduce stress? That is the question I asked myself some years ago. Today I want to tell you a little bit more about meditation and how it can become a stress reliever for you.
Are you stressed and worrying about everything and everyone?
When stress is slowly trying to kill you, and your thoughts are racing, then you want something to ease your mind and help to manage stress better, right?
Do you want to live a less stressful life? I am sure we all want that.
Does Meditation Reduce Stress?
Of course. I wouldn’t be writing about it if meditation wouldn’t help. At first, I want to tell you my story. Do you want to hear my story? People usually love stories.
When I was in school some years ago, I suffered from anxiety and stress. I even had physical symptoms – itching and rash. Who wants to live life like that? I understood that with time it only could get worse because adult life is much more stressful.
Because of meditation, everything changed for me. I was healed. Maybe it sounds strange or like a fairytale but it is true. My perception of the world changed.
I reduced anxiety and stress by letting go of things, feelings, emotions that were holding me back. I become less stressed and anxious, freer. One day the rash that made me feel even tenser was nowhere to be seen, bygones are bygones. I am grateful for that!
Of course, it wasn’t some magic bean in fairyland, and it didn’t happen overnight. I still feel stressed from time to time, and anxiety sometimes finds me, I am not immune to stress. I wish I could be.
Now I know that when I feel stressed, I can use meditation to reduce stress. Meditation helped me in more ways than one, and I am sure it can help you too.
How Can I Do This? How To Begin To Meditate?
I am sure some of you may ask that, and you need information and advice, right? There were times when I said that I don’t know how to meditate. At least, I thought that the way I meditate is not the proper one.
Right now I know that there’s no right or wrong way to meditate.
I read an article a while ago that stated everyone who meditates daily has their own, unique way to do that. I agree with this opinion. Each person their way is the best for them, and nobody can say otherwise.
Do You Want To Know How To Meditate?
I know you do. I am just checking. 🙂 You need to understand that there are many ways to meditate and there are different ways how you can look at meditation.
So what can you try before you decide what works for you and make your own, unique style with time? So let’s see!
What Type Of Meditation Is Good For You?
Of course, only you can answer that.
After some years of research (it seems that way) and experience, I came up with this classification you see below. I can say that one course of meditation led me to this. I hope this classification of meditation will be easily understandable for you too.
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Passive Meditation.
This type of meditation means that you need to clear your mind and let go of your thoughts. For many people who have an active imagination, a lot of ideas are very difficult to use passive meditation. It is frustrating for them. Actually, many people are problems with this kind of meditation.
How can you meditate and relax if meditation makes you feel frustrated and overwhelmed? Of course, you can’t. You can try, but it will be difficult for you, and one day you will just stop trying. If you want to try passive meditation, either way, you can use music with binaural beats, and that will help you to relax and let go of your thoughts.
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Active Meditation
I love this type of meditation, and it is my favorite one because I have a vivid imagination, I like to daydream. I enjoy the meditations where I don’t need to get rid of thoughts and clear my mind, but replace these thoughts with positive ones and let my imagination take over.
Active meditation means turning your problem into a project, and that helps you to resolve your issues and find solutions. It sounds amazing, right? Who doesn’t want to resolve his or her problems?
These meditations often are guided meditations. Do you want examples? For example, creative visualization meditation helps to find peace and relaxation going to your special place in your mind’s eye. You can be whatever you want to be. Do you understand how powerful for you could be forgiveness or gratitude meditations? I do. Just try!
Conclusion
I am sure that there are so many things to learn about meditation and explore.
Meditation is essential for stress relief and can help you to find inner peace, solutions to your problems, and heal you. In fact, it’s a powerful method that helps you get free of stress.
We all are different, and the way we meditate is different too and unique.
Just try meditating and find your own way. Heal yourself!
Do you meditate? Do you want to try?
Return here because there will be many more articles about meditation, mindfulness, and stress relief.
Does meditation reduce stress? CLICK HERE to find out more ways in which meditation can help you release stress and free yourself.
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I would love to hear from you, so please leave me a comment below to let me know if this article helped you. Tell me your stories about how meditation helps you to reduce stress and heal yourself!
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Until next time!
Linda Mo
Founder of How to Reduce Stress Naturally
hi Linda, thanks for this article. It is interesting that you pointed out that meditation can be broken down into two: Passive and Active. In my experience, unconsciously, I’ve tried both. There were some moments when I just clear off my mind, and there are times when my imagination takes over while I silently meditate. Oh and the binaural beats, I’ve tried that too. I downloaded an app and it helped me. Interestingly, when I am in the “zone” and the binaural beats are playing in the background, I start with an empty thought that relaxes me but almost always ends up with vivid imaginations. I guess my brain mixes up both, but ultimately makes me more relaxed. So there, another great read =) Thanks.
Hi, JR
Wonderful! That is what I am talking about – you have your own way to meditate and, you don’t need any classification.
Thank you for your comment!
Thank you for sharing your personal story. I also know that meditating helps me relax and focus on the positive things in life.
Though at times when I feel low it’s harder for me to convince myself to sit down and concentrate on my breath and after I do it I feel much better!
Paulina
Hi, Paulina!
Thanks! Of course, it is harder, but after that, we always feel little relaxed.
Thanks Linda for such an informative post. I used to meditate and it has always worked provided you have a reason behind your meditation. Meditation without a purpose can give you short term benefits but for longer term anchor must be found to get the energy for soul. I am not going to give a theology lesson here but consciousness, rationality and search for a creator could be the driving force for longer term stress relief and when combined with meditation one can get super results.
Hi, Fred! Thank you for your interesting comment!
I am glad that meditation helps you.
We all have a little bit different opinions, and I agree with some of it. Very important is long term goals, and we need to think about our consciousness.
In my opinion, we don’t need to search for something because everything is in us. We just need to be, be ourselves.
Wonderful! I am always looking to relieve stress. Yoga and meditation is what I turn to for my stress release. I do have issues on focusing during my meditation sessions and find I can only sit for about 5 minutes without something entering the mind and bringing my stress levels right back up. I find active meditation (going to my happy place) is easier for me but usually still get interrupted with something… Do you have any suggestions that might help in getting a better level mediation?
Hi, Baukje!
Thank you for your comment!
Many people have issues with focusing during their meditation sessions. Sometimes I also have a problem with that.
It depends on you, and how you meditate. Are you a beginner? Do you listen to music when meditate? Relaxing and soothing music helps me a lot to let go of everything except present moment (meditation). You can try relaxation music with binaural beats, and it can calm your mind. Are you using guided meditation? Sometimes it is easier.
Actually, you can use concentration exercises, and that could help focus your mind on “your happy place”. I heard about them but never used.
How long usually is your meditation session? You don’t need to meditate for a long period of time. Start with 5 minutes. I am sure it will get easier with time.
How active is your imagination?
I hope something here will help you. In fact, I think I need a bit more information to better help you.
If you have any more questions or comments, please, contact me. I would be happy to help you.
Great read Linda! As a Clinical Hypnotherapist I see how hypnotherapy helps my clients greatly- and hypnotherapy is really a form of focused meditation!
I as well have struggled in the past with anxiety and I also feel that meditation/hypnosis has greatly helped to pretty much eliminate it and change my perspective on things 🙂
Hi, Andrea!
Thanks! Great to hear that!
Hi Linda thanks for sharing this fantastic post. I have thought about trying mediation over and over and I think it’s time I really give it a go. I know it will help once I give it a try. I love the idea of active meditation I have an active imagination too. I always thought the only way to meditate was to clear your mind. Thanks again for these great tips. I will certainly be back to find out more. Thanks again Linda.
Hi, Graham! Thank you! 🙂
You need to try, and I am sure you will be happy if you do. Just try!
There were times when I thought that too but is wrong to assume that. There are more ways than one, and you need to choose best for you.
Thank you for your comment! I hope you will be back.:)
If you need advice, write here or to my email (linda@howtoreducestressnaturally.com).
Hi Linda, I’ve always thought of meditation as being ‘passive’ – I really love the ‘active’ meditation. I guess painting and guitar playing for me could be called ‘active meditation’.
For me, with ‘passive meditation’, I like to think of myself breathing in goodness, and breathing out all the bad. Thanks for posting!
Hi, Angela! Thank you for your comment!
Yes, there were times when I also thought that.
I am sure that painting and guitar playing could be called meditation. For me, painting is like meditation.
Breathing is great for relaxation.
Hi Linda! What a great article. I have to say that both methods of meditation sound very advantageous! But, I’m with you on the more colorful one. Being a day dreamer is important! This is where inventions and creations come from. However, it would be nice to calm the mind, let it take a break and give us some peace and quiet!!!!! You did a lovely job writing this piece. Thanks so much.
Hi, Paula! I am glad you like it. 🙂
Yes. But sometimes creative ideas can come to you when your mind is calm, and it is like a vision.
Thanks! Thank you for your comment!
Great site!! I have been mediating for several years now while studying how to be a better human. I fully agree that meditation is a wonderful thing and more people should be doing it just for fun if not for anything else. I firmly believe that it can help you in so many ways.
Hi, Brent! Thank you! I am glad you like it. I have been meditating for quite some time too. Meditation is something wonderful that can change lives.
Thank you Linda for posting your article on meditation and explaining the difference between passive and active meditation. I always found it hard to clear my thoughts so I think active meditation works better for me. One thing you mentioned about passive meditation was binaural beats.
Can you explain what they are and how they work?
Thanks again,
Ken
Hi, Ken!
Thank you for your comment! It’s good to know that it helped you in some way.
First of all, binaural beats only work through headphones. For example, if a 520 Hz sound frequency is sent to the left ear, a 530 Hz to the right ear, the brain will interpret the two sounds as one 10 Hz frequency (binaural beat). Binaural beats induce relaxation, and they are good for meditation. They would help you to calm your mind and let go of your thoughts.
I hope I answered your question. 🙂
If you have more questions, please ask. I would be happy to help. 🙂
This article is very interesting, indeed! It makes me want to try meditation… especially the Active Meditation. I never knew that there isn’t a literal “wrong” way of doing things. Wow! Thank you for posting your articles!
Hi, Jillian! Thank you for your comment! It is great that you like it. Just try it! It is an amazing way to relax and let go. Especially if you are stressed, it gives a little bit more peace and clear mind.
Great article, enjoyed it! I find passive meditation being hard like you mention in your post. Now active meditation or guided meditation I enjoy very much. I try to do it daily and I can truly tell a big difference in me getting those 20 minutes of meditation.
I might give passive meditation another go though, now when I have some more experience… anyway thank you for a great read.
Thank you, Vicky! I am delighted.
Yes, many people find passive meditation hard to do. Me too. 🙂 Great to hear and meditation make a huge difference as you mention. It can heal you, help with stress relief and other problems.
Good, I will also try it.
Thank you for reading it!
I have a weird way of meditation – don’t laugh. My work is hectic so by the end of the day, I am pretty much worn out and sitting upright in a lotus position for meditating just doesn’t work for me.
My preference is to lie down, with both my feet upright against the wall. I am not sure if it’s the stretch or the blood flow to my brain, but I am very relax in this position, my mind will start to space out and it takes away most of the tension around my neck and shoulder.
I can stay there for a very long time until I doze off. It’s my way of de-stressing and I absolutely love it.
Hi, Cathy! Thanks for telling your story! Of course, I am not laughing. As I said before, we all have different ways to meditate, and maybe some of them seem weird to others. It doesn’t matter, and the important thing is that it helps.
Interesting, and maybe I need to try it. But I don’t think it would work for me. It’s your way. 🙂
It’s great to hear that you found a way that helps you to relax and relieve stress.
Thanks again!
Linda, that is some great information that you have about meditation. I agree with you that meditation can help in reducing stress.
About 557 days ago I knew nothing about meditation. At that time I was under a lot of stress and had experienced a severe panic attack earlier, not including the ‘minor’ ones. My brother suggested that I give meditation a go. So I did some research and found the course that Giovanni developed. I liked what I read at his website, so I decided to give it a go.
Well that was 557 days ago. In his course, I learned how to meditate, I learned the importance of doing it every day, and I learned a number of different meditation techniques. I have now done meditation for 557 consecutive days in a row, no let up, not even for Sundays, Saturdays or holidays. Knowing a number of different meditation techniques means that I can switch from one technique to another quite easily. I even did a refresher of the course a while back to reinforce and to deepen my meditation practices. That was also time well spent. I picked up some things that I missed on the ‘first pass’.
I recommend his course without hesitation. I was thrilled to see that his course is the one you recommend. Of the techniques that he explores, I find that I like the Loving Kindness type the best, followed by a mixture of the breathing ones. Which ones do you like the best?
Peace,
David
Hi, David! Thanks for very good comment! I am glad meditation helped you. In my opinion, meditations is one of the best ways to reduce stress, anxiety and feel happier in your life.
I like loving kindness meditation, it helped me a lot in the past.
Best regards,
Linda