There are so many different forms of meditation ranging from
mandala coloring patterns to mindfulness of breathing. With so many available forms and so many sources of information, there is something for everyone. The benefits of meditating are endless. Post-meditation, you are in a calm, relaxed state – but also refreshed and ready for the day. J
oy Rains, author of Meditation Illuminated: Simple Ways to Manage Your Busy Mind, explains how meditation helps improve your focus by using an analogy to a car:
“Essentially, it’s like you’re taking your mind out of drive and shifting it to neutral – again and again and again, sometimes as often as every second or two. Just as the repetitive motion of doing abdominal crunches builds core strength, this continual shift of awareness helps build your mind’s muscle.”
Meditation does not suppress your thoughts, but helps you become more aware and enlightened through another point of focus, depending on which type of meditation you choose.
2. Let go of negative thoughts
A vital step in increasing your mental strength, is letting go of all negativity.
Inner Wisdom Coach, Jackie Fletcher, stresses the importance of letting go of negative thoughts through self-realization: “It’s about being aware of the state of our mind, and understanding that we live life from the inside out, not from outside in. When we truly understand that we create our experience of life through our thinking, then we have hope that we can deal with any situation, and that increases our mental strength.“
3. Set Daily Goals
Research has shown that setting controllable and realistic goals on a daily basis can help an athlete to their ultimate, larger goal. Sport & Performance Psychologist, Chris Carr, explains that you should always “Know what outcome you want to achieve, and the process to get there. Setting daily goals can help you achieve that.” Setting goals will help you have a focused mindset each day.
4. Work on relationships
Many people believe that getting rid of toxic friendships is the best way to clear your mind and strengthen your mentality.
Author, Carrie Aulenbacher, suggests that we don’t take the easy route and “avoid the temptation of ditching irritating friendships and work extra hard to understand the frustrating people of life.” Although this can be difficult at times, it can help you to understand how other people work and bring you another level of mental strength. 5. Pay attention to your diet
What you eat directly affects how you feel. If you notice that you feel particularly bad (physically or mentally) after eating something and it happens multiple times – take note. It is worth seeing if it is an allergy, intolerance, or bigger issue.
Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist, Viji Natarajan, says that “According to Ayurveda,
our health begins in the gut.” We feel our emotions through our digestive system, “So, at the very least, maintaining your gut health will be really important and does affect our mental health and strength.” Paying attention to how foods affect you and changing your diet accordingly will help your mental strength by improving your gut health.
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