Shopping Basket
Your Basket is Empty
Quantity:
Subtotal
Taxes
Delivery
Total
There was an error with PayPalClick here to try again
CelebrateThank you for your business!You should receive an order confirmation from Paypal shortly.Exit Shopping Basket

Tamara Jeffries

Manuscript and Editorial Consulting

Now I See

Blog

« Back to Blog « Older Entry | Newer Entry »

Of Mysteries and Meditation

Posted on 3 February, 2011 at 14:17
     I’ve tried and tried. Been to retreats; done it at church; practiced it walking, sitting, chanting, silent. I’ve made a place to “sit” at home. But meditation does not come easy for me. 
    I believe mindfulness meditation can have benefits. And so do other folks: According to a recent post in the New York Times’ “Well” blog,  “researchers report that those who meditated for about 30 minutes a day for eight weeks had measurable changes in gray-matter density in parts of the brain associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress.”  The study showed a boost gray matter in areas of the brain associated with regulating emotions and taking perspective, and a decrease in the areas associated with anxiety and stress.
    Less stress, more equanimity? I’ll take it. But 30 minutes of meditation? I dunno. I can sit quietly for half an hour, no problem. But the goal, it seems, is to keep your mind still for that long—and that’s where the trouble lies.  If you saw me meditating, I’d probably look peaceful enough. But if you could read my mind, you’d see it churning like a commercial-grade washing machine agitating an improperly sorted load of clothes. 
     Recently, though, I received some unexpected encouragement in Walter Mosley’s latest crime mystery series. It features Leonid McGill, a quick-fisted, middle-aged P.I. who used to work more cases for the bad guys than the good and who, when Mosley introduces him, is trying to change his karma (though I don’t believe karma is the word he’d use).  
    The plot includes mysterious NY powerbrokers, remorseless assassins with hearts of gold and beautiful women in various stages of distress— plus so many fight scenes and plot twists you have to read every chapter twice to keep up. In the midst of murder-mystery madness, our protagonist McGill finds his center either duking it out in a sweaty boxing gym or practicing Buddhist meditation.  
     When he’s in a particularly stressful situation—say, being interrogated by suspicious police who want him behind bars by any means necessary—he turns to mindful breathing.  

After the representatives of the NYPD left my premises I sat me down in the office chair and took in a long slow breath while counting the number “one.”  I exhaled, considering the numeral “two,” and went on in that fashion until I made it to “ten.”  I started at “one” again, many times, until the counting fell away and all that was left was a kind of bliss that lasted a little more than half an hour.  

     I think that last phrase may be have been intended as a bit of Mosley irony, but even 30 minutes of peace would feel pretty good for a single mom with a stressful job and way too much on her plate. And counting to ten? That, I can do.
    If my favorite mystery author and a team of neuro-experts say it works, maybe I'll give meditation another try.  

Categories: meditation, depression, anxiety, mental health, mindfulness

Post a Comment

Oops!

Oops, you forgot something.

Oops!

The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again.

33 Comments

Reply overcome depression and loss
5:48 on 16 January, 2013 
I wouldn't know that Meditation is so much beneficial to our body and mind. It cools our body and mind. There have made an importance to Meditation after reading out your blog. Keep it up.
Reply Spa Austin
10:42 on 15 March, 2013 
You are a blogger and now my inspiration. I just love the blog post. Its very informative, interactive and quality content. I wish you all good luck for your coming blogs and posts.All the efforts you put in the blog post is appreciable. Entire blog is informative. Looking forward to read more blogs and contents from you. Wish you luck!
Reply pilates university place
5:48 on 26 March, 2013 
Enormous information in one blogger "Meditation postures", I just love it. I must appreciate and mention that you completely know how to keep connected reader to blog post even if it is little long. Thanks.
Reply belvekaky
23:58 on 27 July, 2022 
Duofem Online Bestellen where can i buy cialis on line
Reply infacle
20:11 on 16 August, 2022 
Shipped Ups Macrobid Medication Store ivermectin 3 mg tablet price Comprar Propecia Finasteride
Reply SicaSmekS
21:01 on 29 October, 2022 
Wilton, USA 2022 04 24 08 58 50 stromectol 6mg
Reply Tanioma
2:11 on 6 November, 2022 
priligy kaufen It is not a drug that should ever be prescribed for less than life threatening conditions, no exceptions
Reply pellect
7:37 on 11 November, 2022 
buy nolvadex online J Clin Biochem Nutr 2021; 69 3 229 237
Reply pealorano
6:46 on 15 November, 2022 
Trials should have a clear division of cancer stages buy stromectol 3 mg But does tamoxifen really cause you to gain weight
Reply Gyncgeono
9:04 on 18 November, 2022 
can doxycycline treat uti WO2002103320 and is a cofounder, stockholder, and part time employee of Agendia
Reply Orikenide
18:57 on 20 November, 2022 
Published November 15, 2018 More info lasix drug Ellis, AstraZeneca; Vered Stearns, Novartis, Pfizer Expert Testimony Kathleen I
Reply WeewNeste
18:05 on 21 November, 2022 
clomid Metastases were visualized in brain tissue by fluorescent microscopy
Reply addibrert
22:40 on 7 December, 2022 
Marmor MF, Carr RE, Esterbrook M, et al levitra generico miglior prezzo india
Reply arguLse
2:46 on 13 December, 2022 
Felix AS, et al generic priligy Pretreatment evaluation included history and physical examination, serum PSA level Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill, CAT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, bone scan, chest radiograph followed by a CAT scan of the chest, if any abnormalities were observed, complete blood count, and serum chemistry profile
Reply bambNobby
7:00 on 13 December, 2022 
In the present investigation, the hepatic cells of the control group display large rounded nucleus with normal distribution of euchromatin and heterochromatin lasix diuretic side effects 1996a on 314 men in a manganese plant exposed up to 35 years to manganese at levels of 0
Reply Broonna
5:44 on 15 December, 2022 
stromectol merck canada Moreover, numerous questions need to be fully clarified before the application of MSC EVs in the clinic, including standardized purification and identification methods, appropriate storage and transportation systems, determined cargo for large scale generation, and safety issues

Categories

/
Lightbox image