Using Active Meditation To Understand Your Dreams And Use Them For Personal Development

Meditation is one way to discover more about oneself. Many self-help coaches recommend meditation for self-development and self-discovery. This is due to the fact that meditation means a relaxed and focused state of mind - a mind without excess thoughts and unnecessary details. This relaxed mind, however, is also aware and effective, meaning though it is at peace, it is not unconscious like during the state of sleep. When meditation is mentioned, however, people immediately jump to the conclusion that it means absolute silence and immobility for hours at a time. This is true for some; however, there is also another kind of meditation at work for the modern-day dynamic person - active meditation.

This is a fast-paced present-day world we are living in and at most times, many of us do not have enough time to even take a simple breather - what more a full-scale meditation session? That is why it is encourage for even the busiest person to do meditation even in the middle of an activity. Yes, believe it or not, meditation in the middle of an important meeting, exam or sports activity is perfectly possible. In fact, it can arguably be more rewarding in terms of self-awareness than static meditation.

Osho, a popular spiritual guru, developed dynamic meditation. These types of meditation are usually started with intense physical activity before undertaking a phase of silence and relaxation. Some examples of this kind of meditation include yoga and Shamanistic dance. However, any kind of activity can be transformed into active meditation if desired; all you need is one thing - focus. If you only have enough extra time in one day to do your morning jog, for example; then use that time to meditate. It is exactly like killing two birds with one stone. Simply exert all efforts and desires to include body and mind in your endeavor.

First thing to do is decide that you are undergoing active meditation. You also have to decide what the duration for the meditation is. You have to have a mind-set or else you will get distracted in the middle of it all. Only allow thoughts of the present to consume your mind. If past or future thoughts float across your brain, let them pass. Focus on what is before you and what you are doing at that very moment. You have to notice every detail of what you are doing, even the gravel at your feet while you are walking or the tear in your paper in the middle of an exam. Do not just focus on what you see but also what you hear, taste, smell and feel. Open up all your senses and take everything in.

When you have noticed every detail of your surroundings, then take time to appreciate the movement of your body. The way your legs move, the way your arms sway and the way your hair trails behind you - appreciate them all. Appreciate even how your chest expands as your breath or how your eyelids cover your eyes as you blink. Put yourself in the shoes of a child or a person who might not have experienced such feelings before. See everything in the eyes of someone who has not seen such beauty in simplicity. Be in awe of everything, which comes your way, and inhale all the details in.

You can then decide when the meditation is over. If you are new to doing this, you can set an alarm if you wish, though that it not recommended since it will interrupt your flow of thoughts and might leave you with a bas aftertaste. Your sense of time will develop as your get used to doing active meditation.