Quiet the chatter

Meditation takes many forms; it means different things to different people.

To some, meditation means simply sitting quietly and trying to clear your thoughts and either reduce or eliminate the inner chatter for a while. For others, it can be a time of reading something inspirational such as the Bible or a book with encouraging and positive messages. It may be a time of prayer. Some people use it to set aside stress and enjoy a time of quiet relaxation. Still others try to reach a different state of consciousness.

Much has been written about various forms of meditation. I would love to hear in the Comment box below if you have some experience with one type or another—and what it does for you. Perhaps you can introduce us to something new.

Most of us are on overload with messages and stimuli around and outside us. And we have no shortage of inner chatter going on inside our heads, too—what some call "monkey mind" (a mind constantly chattering and on the move).

It can go a long way in reducing stress and helping you to live more awake and aware if you can find five to ten minutes a day to sit quietly, using whatever form of meditation you find helpful. It can be a trick to find that time each day, or even to find a place in your house where you can be assured of quiet and no interruptions. It is worth the effort, though. And once you have done this a few times, you will likely find yourself craving more of it. Soon it will become a habit you won't want to give up. It will become part of your self-care routine.