While meditation is often touted for improving health,
Reducing stress,
Bringing a sense of inner peace to the mind and spirit,
Meditation can also help you to solve complex problems.
For many of us,
We're often faced with problems or situations that are overwhelming,
Difficult to solve,
And carry a great deal of stress,
Intimidation,
And fear.
Stress brings mental confusion and can affect the emotions in a negative manner.
With life-changing events or crises,
One needs to make logical,
Critical decisions,
And they may find their thinking processes are overcome by the severity of the issue at hand.
Perhaps it is an issue at work,
The difficult client,
A heated exchange with a colleague,
An important contract with a looming deadline,
Or the concern is at home with family or friends,
An argument with a loved one,
Difficult conversation or disagreement,
Illness,
Or a friend who is suffering.
These situations can throw us into the loop of problem solving far beyond what influence we have.
So just taking a deep breath and settling in,
Bringing to mind a situation or event that has been causing some distress or causing you to ruminate or activate those problem solving thoughts.
Just sitting for a moment and bringing to mind this image of this problem you think needs to be solved.
Noticing any sensations in your body.
How is your breathing?
Do you feel any tension or resistance in your body?
Now paying attention to the issue and placing it in time.
Is it in the past?
Present?
Future?
I'm asking you to place this issue on a timeline because I want you to notice your thoughts.
Are you trying to solve a problem that is in the past that has already occurred?
Or are you trying to manage something in the future,
Something that has not yet come to pass?
Just noticing where your mind is traveling to.
Now,
I want you to continue to focus on your breathing.
Letting the thoughts arise as they will.
And each time you notice the past or future thought,
Noting past or future.
And releasing the thought and imagining that you are becoming 10% more relaxed.
Just breathing.
When you notice a present moment thought.
Just saying silently or aloud.
It's your choice.
Problem solving.
And then releasing the thought and imagining that you're becoming 10% more relaxed.
Breathing.
And then releasing the thought and imagining that you're becoming 10% more relaxed.
And we'll just sit here a little longer,
Noticing,
Noting and releasing.
Noting past.
Noting future.
And releasing the thought and imagining that you're becoming 10% more relaxed.
Not allowing any one thought to yank us around or spiral away.
And again,
When you notice a present moment thought,
Just saying silently or aloud.
It's your choice.
Noting problem solving.
And then releasing the thought and imagining that you are becoming 10% more relaxed.
Breathing.
Extending an invitation to yourself to become 10% more relaxed.
Noticing,
Noting and releasing.
Now as we're coming to the end of this meditation,
Extend the invitation to take three deep breaths.
Bringing yourself back to a sense of your body.
Just breathing and noticing any changes in the sensations in your body.
Now inviting a sense of well-being and a rested mind that can think clearly,
Remain focused and make the effective choices needed to solve complex problems.
As you open your eyes,
Try to move through the rest of your day.
Just invite you to set the intention to keep in mind,
Just noticing,
Noting and releasing as problem solving thoughts arise.
