The 9th Benefit of Meditation

In Chapter 17 of my second book, “Further Down The Stream,” I list eight benefits of meditation. They are:

1. You are healthier.
2. You are more creative.
3. You are more intuitive.
4. You are more responsive.
5. You are more present.
6. You are more patient.
7. You are more peaceful.
8. You are more loving.

By no means are those the only benefits of meditation. There are more—many more. Those are just the ones that sprang to mind as I wrote that particular chapter. But as I was listening to a talk recently, I realized I missed a benefit—an important one . . . one I wish I had included in my book.

It is such an obvious benefit, I am surprised it didn’t occur to me at the time. What is it? You only have to look at the smiling face of the Dalai Lama—a consistent meditator—to see what it is:

        9. You are more joyful.

Meditation, as you know, helps quiet the mind, so you are more in touch with your Inner Divine Spirit—that Eternal Presence that exists at the core of your being. It follows that if you are more in touch with that Presence, you will exhibit more of its traits, such as creativity, wisdom, patience, peace, love, and . . . yes . . . joy.

The joy I am talking about is not the kind of joy that arises only when something outside of yourself is to your liking. It’s the kind of joy that comes from embracing all of life and living. It’s the joy that comes from appreciating life as a whole—with its ups and its downs, its peaceful parts and its turbulent parts.

Consider this: When people go to a water park, do they choose only to float along the lazy river? Or do they also choose to hurtle down the scary, but thrilling water slide? Don’t most people choose both? At the end of the day, isn’t it the overall combination of contrasting experiences that brought them joy?

Sure it is. And so it is with your Spirit. To your Spirit, life itself is one big amusement park, with a wide variety of contrasting rides and attractions that bring it joy. And when you connect to your Spirit through a consistent practice of meditation, you, too, can experience that all-inclusive kind of joy. You, too, can experience the unending joy of your Spirit. You, too, can experience the joy of just being alive and in the world. 

Steven

© 2016 by Steven Lane Taylor
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

The Many Benefits of Meditation

November 6, 2011

Dear Friends,

One of the most common questions I am asked about living life in the divine flow is this one: “What can I do to improve my ability to be in the flow?”

Notice the word, “do,” in that question. These people aren’t necessarily seeking a better understanding of the flow. Rather, they are looking for some kind of specific tool or technique that they can employ to experience the flow’s miracles more freely and more frequently, and to fulfill their heart’s desires effortlessly.

Well, as it turns out, there is something that you can “do” that will dramatically magnify the experience of the divine flow in your life, and I highly recommend it. That, quite simply, is to meditate—and to meditate on a daily basis.

There is nothing really mystical or magical about meditation. Meditation is simply a way of slowing down your thoughts. Generally, it involves focusing your attention on one solitary thing, such as your breathing, a comforting phrase, or a peaceful image. As other thoughts arise—as they invariably will—you observe those thoughts, but you don't let yourself get caught up in them. Instead, you simply allow those thoughts to pass by—like watching clouds floating across the sky—and you gently return your awareness to the focus of your meditation.

And how, exactly, does that enhance your ability to be in the flow? Being in the flow is primarily about recognizing and cooperating with divine guidance. And meditation dramatically increases your ability to be in direct contact with the guidance of your inner Divine Spirit.

Your Spirit is the most valuable and reliable source of divine guidance you have. You can always trust your Spirit to know what your next right step should be. And—through what is commonly called your intuition—your Spirit is always attempting to “tell” you what that step is. The trouble is, it is difficult to “hear” that still, small voice of your Spirit when your mind is full of noisy self-talk—that endless chatter in your head about what just happened, what it might mean, and what might happen next. A daily practice of meditation is an effective way to quiet your mind, and open up enough gaps between your incessant thoughts so the guidance of your Spirit can get through.

But the benefits of meditation don’t stop with enhancing your ability to receive divine guidance. When you meditate on a daily basis, your entire experience of life is dramatically improved. What follows is a short summary of some of the benefits you reap when you maintain conscious contact with your inner Spirit.

1. You are more intuitive. As I already mentioned, when you are in touch with your inner Spirit, you can sense divine direction much more easily. So your next right step becomes much more obvious.

2. You are more responsive. Instead of hastily judging and rashly reacting to something unexpected in life, you calmly respond from the wisdom within. You know what is best to do, when to do it, or if you should do anything at all.

3. You are more present. Your Spirit is always in the now moment. When you are in touch with your Spirit, you are less likely to be lost in thought—that is, reflecting on the past or projecting into the future. That means you are better able to notice the miracles that are happening all around you, right here, right now.

4. You are healthier. Many health issues are either caused by, or aggravated by, stress. And for the most part, stress comes from fearful thoughts. When you are in touch with your all-knowing, indestructible Spirit, fearful thoughts are either greatly diminished or completely removed.

5. You are more creative. True creativity comes from the Divine Creator within. When you are in touch with that Divine Creator, you automatically become more inspired and more insightful.

6. You are more patient. Being in the eternal now, your Spirit never feels bound by time. And being all-knowing, your Spirit sees countless ways for you to move successfully through life. When you are in touch with your Spirit, possibilities seem unlimited, and time stands still. The result is infinite patience.

7. You are more peaceful. As an indestructible, eternal being, your Spirit knows nothing of fear, and it is always at peace. When you are in touch with that eternal, indestructible essence, you, too, will be at peace—no matter what is disturbing others.

8. You are more loving. Your Spirit is love itself—unconditional divine love. When you are in touch with your Spirit, you can’t help but be more compassionate, understanding, accepting, and forgiving.

Here’s to the many benefits of meditation—of going within, getting in touch with the Divine Spirit that resides there, and allowing that divine essence to express itself throughout the day.

Steven

P.S. If you are new to meditation, and would like detailed instructions about how to meditate, here is a webpage that describes the simple technique that I use: www.alternative-medicine.net/meditation.

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© 2011 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

When The Flow Seems Slow

June 5, 2011

Dear Friends,

I am happy to say that most of the time, I can sense the divine flow in my life quite easily. I notice a steady stream of signs, synchronicities, and intuitive nudges that are all pointing me in one particular direction. And when I head in that direction, I feel like I am in a gently moving current that is helping me get where I want to go with effortless ease.

Sure, sometimes there are unexpected twists and turns along the way. But usually, those surprising detours quickly transform into stepping-stones to a higher good. So even in those circumstances, I can still feel the divine flow at work on my behalf.

In other words, whether the flow takes a direct route, or a more circuitous one, some kind of divine movement in my life is usually very apparent.

But not always.

Occasionally, I experience periods in my life when it feels like the flow is hardly moving at all, leaving me in still waters for days—or even weeks—on end. I do not see any signs, or experience any meaningful coincidences. Doors are not opening for me. Opportunities are not presenting themselves. My inner voice is silent. And I have no idea what my next right step is.

Friends, are you experiencing something like that in your life right now? Then I invite you to consider the following:

• The flow may be slowing things down on purpose, so you will arrive at just the right place at just the right moment. It’s simply a matter of divine timing.

• The flow may be hard at work removing obstacles in your path that you are not aware of.

• Because of certain freewill decisions that you—or others—have made, the flow may be having to rearrange a lot of things, so you can once again move down the stream toward your dream in the most beneficial way possible.

• The flow may simply be giving you the time to become the kind of person you need to be before you arrive at your chosen destination.

Those are just a few of the reasons why the flow can seem painfully slow at times. The challenge in those trying times is to not lose your patience. You may feel like there is something you should be doing to bring you one step closer to you chosen destination . . . and doing nothing feels uncomfortable. But the fact is, in many instances, doing nothing is exactly what is called for.

Sometimes, your job is just to wait patiently while the divine flow works its magic. And that’s when it is more important than ever to make sure that you are meditating on a daily basis. Why? Because meditation helps you become more patient.

When you meditate you are consciously connecting with your inner Divine Spirit. Your Spirit exists in a world that lies beyond time and space. It is always in the Eternal Now, which means that how long something is going to take, or how far away something is, are meaningless concepts. What may try the patience of your ego is never—ever—an issue for your Spirit.

Remember too, that your Spirit can see a virtually unlimited number of ways for you to achieve your dream. So when something occurs that blocks your way or impedes your progress, your ego may become impatient, but your Spirit won’t.

If you want to avoid frustration, and the unpleasant consequences that can come from losing your patience and forcing your way forward, take some time each morning to consciously connect with that all-knowing, eternal Spirit within you . . . a Spirit that is—by its very nature—infinitely patient.

And the rest of the time? Hey, enjoy the break! Take care of all the little details in life that are calling for your attention. Enjoy the time that you have been given to partake of life's many simple pleasures. And take advantage of this opportunity to just "be."

Don't worry about how slow the flow may seem. If—through your daily practice of meditation—you remain open and receptive to divine direction, I assure you that the current will pick up soon enough. Eventually, clear guidance will come. Your next divinely directed step will appear. And helpful doors will open. And when that happens, there is a very good chance that you will be able to see the perfect timing in it all.

Steven

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© 2011 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

Patience, Meditation, and The Divine Flow

April 11, 2010

Dear Friends,

As I have mentioned many times before, living life in the divine flow can require a fair amount of patience. As you row your boat gently down the stream toward the fulfillment of your dream, the current beneath you can be painfully slow at times.

There are a number of reasons for that, including these five:

1. The flow may be slowing things down so you will arrive at just the right place at just the right moment. It’s simply a matter of divine timing.

2. The flow may be slow because it is gently guiding you around obstacles that you are unaware of.

3. The flow may be slow because your dream is especially grand, requiring you to take an exceptional number of steps before that particular dream can be fully realized.

4. The flow may have had to change course several times because of certain freewill decisions that you have made, combined with the freewill decisions that other people have been making.

5. The flow may be sending you down a few tributaries along the way, so you will have the chance to become the kind of person you need to be before you arrive at your chosen destination.

Since it is impossible to know with absolute certainty what’s really going on, rowing with a slow-moving flow can be frustrating. So here’s something I recommend to enhance your ability to be patient: Meditate. And meditate daily.

Increased patience is just one of the many benefits of a daily practice of meditation. And it comes about for a very simple reason. When you meditate you are consciously connecting with the Divine Spirit that exists at the core of your being. And your Divine Spirit is—by its very nature—infinitely patient.

You see, your Spirit lives in a world beyond time and space. It is always in the Eternal Now, which means that how long something is going to take, or how far away something is, are meaningless concepts. What may try the patience of your ego is never—ever—an issue for your Spirit.

Remember too, that your Spirit can see a virtually unlimited number of ways for you to achieve your dream. So when something occurs that blocks your way or impedes your progress, your ego may be concerned, but your Spirit won’t be.

So, if you want to avoid frustration—and the unpleasant consequences that can come from losing your patience and forcing your way forward—I recommend that you practice meditation every single day. Take some time each morning to consciously connect with that all-knowing, eternal Spirit within you.

As you pursue your goals and dreams in life, you will discover that your connection to divine direction will be much stronger and much clearer. And best of all, you will enjoy the journey much, much more—no matter how slowly the flow may go.

Steven

P.S. If you are new to meditation and would like more detailed instructions, here is a link I found that will answer most of your questions: Just click here:
www.alternative-medicine.net/meditation/english.html.

© 2010 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com