Spiritual Meditations
Forty-seven percent of people say they are concerned with the amount of stress they experience in their lives, particularly because their reaction to it leads to engaging in unhealthy behaviors such as comfort eating, poor diet choices, smoking, and being inactive (Stambor, 2006). While these behaviors contribute to a decreased sense of well-being, those who engage in some sort of spiritual practice have higher levels of well-being than those who do not (Newport, Agrawal, and Witters, 2010). And while nine percent of the population does exercise some form of internal validation to their wellness through prayer, religion, or some form of spirituality (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009), fifty-eight percent of Americans continue to be concerned with meaning and purpose in their lives (Pink, 2005). According to Daniel Pink, we are on the cusp of a conceptual age which requires a greater focus on, and integration of, self-expression and quality of life in addition to reclaiming the “…intuitive, pattern part of ourselves” (Pink, 2005 p. 221). Meditation, then, becomes a means through which participants have the opportunity to learn how to release the responsibilities of day-to-day life while enabling them to discover that which is personally meaningful.
Meditation is a great tonic for the soul and the body. With meditation one can experience inner peace, greater clarity and focus, as well as an increased sense of well-being and contentment. The guided meditations at You, Illuminated! are offered as a way to assist you in making space for positive change and growth by putting you in touch with your higher self. They are both healing in nature and designed to validate the spirit within. Each guided meditation is approximately 12-20 minutes in length and has a physical and/or spiritual healing focus, or theme.
Healing Meditations–
focusing on healing the body
Spiritual Meditations–
focusing on healing the spirit
Rewriting Your Story
Your Creative Energy
Your Vibration of Love Meditation
The Inner Child
Sources:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (2009). American Time Use Survey. Retrieved November 17, 2010, from http://www.bls.gov/tus/tables.htm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.). Leading Causes of Death. Retrieved September 30, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm
- Newport, F., Agrawal, S., and Witters, D. (2010, Oct. 28). Religious Americans Enjoy Higher Wellbeing. Retrieved November 17, 2010, from http://www.gallup.com/poll/144080/Religious-Americans-Enjoy-Higher-Wellbeing.aspx
- Pink, D. (2005). A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age. Penguin Group.
- Stambor, Z. (2006, April). Stressed out nation. Monitor on Psychology, 37, 4, 28. Retrieved November 17, 2010 from http://www.apa.org/monitor/apr06/nation. aspx