Dealing with Stress and Difficult Emotions through Meditation

How can meditation help us make sense of our inner turmoil and find space, respite, and even joy in the face of great stress and difficulties?

In this effortless approach to meditation, we create a safe space within which changes can take place; changes that are new and unfamiliar, and may seem threatening on first encounter.

Just as a safety railing, like the one in the picture, allows us to come right close to the edge of a cliff without fear, helps us find our bearings, and leads us on the trail to explore new places, likewise, in meditation:

• Physically, we take time to settle our body in a stable, comfortable posture, resting on firm ground, releasing our body to gravity;
• Mentally, we provide our mind with a resting place, a meditation support where our attention can always come back to, no matter how long or far it has wandered or drifted off.
• Emotionally, we develop the attitudes of kindness, gentleness and letting go towards everything that comes up in our experiences.

Here are some of the benefits that come out of meditation:

• Released from unnecessary tensions, we can find physical relaxation.
• Released from compulsive rumination, we can find rest in increasing periods of calm and peace.
• Released from physical and mental agitations, our sleep can be deeper, more restful and recuperative.
• Released from chronic stress reactions, we can improve our physical health.
• Released from emotional turmoils, we can appreciate the many joyful, funny, and happy moments.
• Released from unhappiness, we can, once again, relate to those around us with care and concern.

Go to the Audio page to try out a guided meditation on using a meditation support, such as noticing the different bodily sensations, as a resting place for the mind, helping it to settle down.

Sometimes, despite doing our best, we are still confronted by a host of negative or distressing experiences in meditation. It is at times like these, when our meditation seems to be not working, that we have the chance to investigate further into the conditions that have been influencing our experiences and reactions.