Meditation is oh! so excellent for MANY reasons including stress management, cardiac and immune maintenance, problem solving, and more. And it is also a way to overcome insomnia (as well as increase dream recall and lucidity). I am a HUGE fan of meditation for every single one of these reasons. It is the best way I know to connect not only to our bodies, but our minds and the even higher aspects of ourselves.
3PoundUniverse.com is all about navigating consciousness to rejuvenate each of these elements; specifically through meditation, sleep and dreams. Sleep and dreaming are obviously interconnected. But by throwing meditation into the mix you can amplify that connection exponentially.
Did you know that anxiety, depression and pain stick with you while you sleep? Yup - they're visible in the patterns of brainwaves, eye movements and muscle tone recorded in laboratories and sleep clinics. They disrupt our sleep architecture, or the cycles and rhythms of sleep. Not surprisingly, when we carry extra stress, when we're down in the dumps, or when we have aches and pains and feel horrible we have trouble getting to sleep, waking up, or staying asleep. Our REM (dream) density and deep sleep is lessened when we are anxious, sad or sedentary. All of this means we end up feeling even more mentally and physically “off”. We feed a negative cycle.
So how do we stop this? How do we feel truly rejuvenated physically, mentally and spiritually? Well, one great way is through meditation of course! During meditation you clear your mind. You get better and better and better at it the more you do it. Eventually it becomes second nature, and you get very good at recognizing when you need to take a minute to stop, clear your head and move on with a new approach…a new viewpoint. With a clear mind, you can listen to your body better. You know when you need to calm it and lower the ol’ blood pressure or stop the thoughts and worries and just let go. Meditation helps you stop the chatter of your mind so you can see the big picture, see a solution, or allow creative flow. By clearing your mind and setting an intention, you can open up to the world, to the universe and to Love.
Given all this, the next stop is Rejuvenation Central! And our most potent, natural rejuvenator is sleep. Generally speaking, we restore ourselves physically during deep sleep and mentally during REM. A peaceful body and mind can let go of the day at will and drift into blissful sleep at the drop of a hat. And a peaceful body and mind enters naturally into optimal sleep rhythms so your body can do its thing cellularly and hormonally resulting in a balanced and radiating You!
Pretty great, huh? Well best of all, we can take it to even higher levels. We know that meditation can clear the mind. Once your mind is cleared of chatter, worries and stressors, you then have an excellent opportunity to hold your focus on an intention, ideal, or something you want to program yourself with (like new life patterns or behaviors). You are only limited by your imagination. When you wake up in the morning, take a few minutes to clearly intend a perfect day, a perfect presentation, or a heart full of lovingkindness. When going to sleep, take some time to hold the intention of blissful restoration, dreams of a certain thing, or even lucid dreams!
Lucid dreams are dreams in which you are aware you are dreaming while you are dreaming. This is easily a whole separate topic all by itself. But as it pertains to this one, fully lucid dreams can deliver absolute freedom, and a connection to something more. You can go anywhere with anyone anytime! Almost every single person who has tasted this boundry-less experience will tell you it was exhilarating. Many report it as deeply spiritual, feeling wholly connected to higher aspects of themselves and the universe. Upon waking they cherish the experience and feel – yes – rejuvenated in every way!
I hope by reading this you get a sense of how powerful simple meditation can be. When applied to the realms of sleep and dreams, you obtain an amazing inner resource for rejuvenation. All you have to do is “tap in”!
Daniel
To get started meditating, download the free eBook: A Meditation Primer. It’s a great how-to manual for beginners!
You may also browse a full line of excellent meditation products here.
