Many people think that meditating is taking an hour or so to quiet the noise in your brain (and it is but it isn’t the only way we meditate).
But the truth is, when you think about anything, even something you worry about, you focus on it and you ponder on it. When you do that, you are “mediating” on an idea.
med·i·ta·tion-” the action or practice of meditating. “a life of meditation” synonyms: contemplation, thought, thinking, musing, pondering, consideration, reflection, deliberation, rumination, brooding, reverie, concentration”
Complain about something and your brain loses dendrites (nerve cells), thus destroying your brain. However, if you “meditate” — and I use the word loosely — on a Big Idea or a grand plan, it affects your brain in a positive way. According to Robert Waldman, therapist and an Associate Fellow at the Center for Spirituality and the Mind, University of Pennsylvania, researchers have found you can actually “destroy” parts of your brain with your thoughts. This is not just a nice idea or a faith-related notion, but a fact as shown by the amazing technology of many thousands of brain scans.
Here is the good news! Big ideas can change your brain. Waldman says, “Big ideas, like a belief in God, can build a better brain. Some ideas reduce anxiety and rage, while others improve memory cognition and consciousness itself.”
What big dream supports you in being you – the valuable gift on the planet which you are? What is your Big Idea? What have you been dreaming about?
It could be:
- On “God” and how you are supported by the Universe
- Your intense desire for peace
- To connect with angels to guide your dreams or your purpose
- Living your life with joy and ease
- Being connected to a community that is alignment with your beliefs
- Nurturing healthy relationships
- Feeling safe and confident to be yourself
- The vision of how you want your life to be
Whatever it is, take time to “mediate” on your Big Idea.
Waldman has a simple secret to changing your brain and aligning yourself more closely with your “Big Idea”.
Take 19 minutes to watch Mark Waldman in his serious and very profound talk on “Can God Change Your Brain?”
Post your big idea or your thoughts on Mark Waldman’s You Tube video.
Dreaming the big dream,
Bonnie
PS If you love the more traditional form of meditation, it has been proven to be a very powerful tool for the mind, body and spirit. Many thousands of studies have shown how traditional meditation improves health and happiness. However, even a few minutes to “meditate” when you take a walk, stilling your mind, being present, while focusing on your breathing even a few minutes, or listening to a guided meditation or music creates a healthy brain and supports and aligns you to bringing your dreams to life! Don’t be unsettled if you’re not of the sit still and mediate type although it has powerful benefits even 10 minutes a day of “quiet meditative time” is a tool worth cultivating.