Different Ways to Meditate to Achieve a Calm State of Mind

Meditation takes many forms. For some it requires clearing all conscious thought from the mind, while others see it as just the opposite – focused attention on a point under consideration. Millions of people all over the world use their own form of meditation to help achieve a state of calmness and inner peace. In this article, we present six popular forms of meditation that you can incorporate into your daily practice to achieve a calm state of mind. 

Mindful Meditation

Mindful meditation is the most accessible and popular form of meditation in the Western world. It involves objectively focusing on your thoughts as they enter your mind. You do not judge your thoughts but simply take note of them as they come to you. To help your mind to focus, you can concentrate on an object and on your breathing. 

Mindful meditation helps to slow down our thoughts and develop a calm state of mind. It does not involve the use of props or preparation time. All it requires is a quiet, comfortable place and a few minutes of time. Set a time for your mindful meditation session, starting with just 5 minutes. Sit comfortably with your feet on the floor and maintain the natural curvature to your spine. Become aware of your breathing process as you take air in through your nose, fill your lungs and let it out through your mouth. Rather than trying to clear your mind of your thoughts, simply take note of them as a neutral observer.

Movement Meditation

Movement meditation refers to a combination of action and mental calmness. The most common form of movement meditation is yoga, where you focus your mind on the physical movement you are practicing. Other ways to practice movement meditation are to take a walk in the woods or spend an hour in the garden. Many people find getting back to nature to be a very calm state of mind experience that allows them to slow down mentally and find balance in their lives. 

Spiritual Meditation

Spiritual meditation has the goal of achieving a connection with a person’s God, higher force or Universe. It is often combined with prayer and is used throughout eastern religions and the churches of Christendom. Objects such as the cross, rosary, and shrines are often used to help a person to commune with their deity. Essential oils are also used to achieve a heightened state of spirituality.

Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental meditation derives from the ancient Vedic practices of India. It was brought to the West in the 1960s by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It involves sitting in a quiet place, usually with your legs crossed and your eyes closed. You then use a mantra to help focus your thoughts. A mantra is a word or groups of words that are repeated. The goal of this type of meditation is to transcend your everyday thoughts in order to achieve a state of pure consciousness. 

Spiritual Wellness Articles

You can learn more about the processes, benefits and techniques involved in meditation by seeking out reliable spiritual wellness articles online. The key to success with meditation is to be patient, take it slow and not to be discouraged if you find your mind wandering. 

Visualization Meditation

Visualization meditation involves creating a movie in your mind of a desired future outcome in order to turn it into a reality. It can also be used to create an image in the mind of a calming scene or situation in order to bring a calm state of mind. When visualizing, a person should involve all of their senses in order to make the experience as real as possible. Many sports people use visualization meditation to mentally practice their discipline before they practice or enter into competition.

Progressive Relaxation Meditation

Progressive relaxation meditation involves developing an acute awareness of your body. It is used to relax both mind and body. Also referred to as body sensing, it involves lying down in a quiet place with your eyes closed and focusing on the parts of your body, starting from the toes and moving progressively to the head. As you concentrate on a body part, tense and relax it  a series of times. Imagine a gentle wave moving up your body as your move from one muscle group to the next. 

Many people find this form of meditation to be an effective way to relax, unwind and prepare for sleep at the end of the day. 

Conclusion

Spending a few minutes each day in quiet, meditative practice will allow you to get rid of all the white noise in your head and find a place of balance and keep a calm state of mind. Finding the best form of meditation for you may take a bit of trial and error. Feel free to experiment with the six forms of meditation we’ve outlined here to find a method that works for you.