7 Tips For Gen Z Meditation

The path to mindfulness…From Ask Lewis

In my experience, the most effective approach to meditation is to be less formal and structured. This is especially the case for the ADHD, Texting culture of most young people, in the Gen Z age range.

In the early stages, it is the practice of meditation that is most important, not the technique. A less formal approach allows for spontaneous shifts in posture, changes in breath or perhaps regenerative physical movements such as swaying, etc., which naturally arises as you sit in meditation. Some forms of meditation have a dancelike quality or integrate sitting and movement.

• Basic Sitting Position — The most common meditation practice is to sit on the floor or on a small pillow. If you are in an office where this might seem inappropriate just sit in a chair with your eyes closed and your hands on your lap. If you are on line somewhere among strangers and are not concerned with seeming a bit unusual, try this.

• Standing Position — Though you will not often see individuals practicing standing meditation in the West, it is common in China and Korea. This is a useful position for individuals who cannot sit for long periods of time. Here one stands straight with the feet shoulder width apart. The heels should be slightly closer together than the big toes. Remember not to lock your knees. While standing in this position, place your hands over your belly, right hand over left.

Once you have chosen the position in which you wish to meditate you may begin. This is a valuable 7 step basic meditation practice to tame the monkey mind.

Step #l — Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed.

Step #2 — Sit in a straight-backed chair, with both feet flat on the floor, and your hands facing palms up and resting on your knees.

Step #3 — Close your eyes. Inhale deeply. Exhale long and slowly.

Step #4 — As you exhale, visualize a pleasant memory or a scene that has a joyful or peaceful feeling to it. A few such images can include a beach with waves coming to the shore, snowcapped mountains covered with beautiful green pine trees, a waterfall, a large pasture filled with clover and wild flowers, a special memory of a time well spent with family or friends, or a warm fireplace or campfire on a pleasant summer evening. Fill the visual images with bright colors and sound.

Step #5 — Finish this visualization by taking a long deep breath, slowly exhaling, and gradually opening your eyes. Remain quiet for a few minutes while becoming aware of your surroundings without getting up or moving around.

Step #6 — Slowly begin to wiggle your toes and fingers.

Step #7 — When you clearly feel you have acclimated to the surrounding environment you may arise.

It is best to meditate without expectation. As I have stated previously, there is no one best form of meditation though there are many forms of meditation each with its benefits and limitations. One form is “Introspective Meditation.” The key to this type of meditation is to identify and isolate areas where you can create greater clarity of thought. This meditation can be divided into three categories.

1. Questions: The key to this type of meditation is to identify and isolate those specific areas where greater clarity of thought will aid you in living a simple but content life. Begin the question with any of the following words, “Who, What, Where, When, How, Which.” An example would be “What do I need to do now to be contented?” Or “How can I be a kinder person?” Now, wait for an answer to the question. It is common wisdom that “the truth rests within you.” Trust that the response to your question will arise from your subconscious to your consciousness. You can also ask yourself, “What are my personal strengths? How can I best use my time effectively? Do I ignore important details in my life or do I focus on details at the expense of innovation and creative activity?”

2. Visualization: Here, you visualize the senses: taste, smell, sight and sound while imagining a goal.

3. Combination: You ask yourself core questions and as answers come to you actively visualize some scene or process but with no end goal.

Unlike the basic meditation associated with zazen, which needs to be done daily sitting with back straight, and observing your breath these forms do not need to be part of your discipline. Use them as an additional tool. It is virtually impossible to speak about meditation and the journey along the Wisdom Path without first discussing the emotions. Creating motional balance is a core factor in all we say and do.

Nurturing the Spirit, Building Your Business

An emotion is a capricious and elusive mental and physiological state that we associate with a wide variety of feelings, sensations, thoughts and behaviors that we experience daily. Love and hate and an entire array of feelings, passions and sensibilities all reflect what we classify as emotions. In order to function in the world, you must understand, integrate and express these feelings. Your ability to be in touch with and express emotion plays a large part in the types of business decisions you make.

There are many factors that define how you will respond to one stimulus or another, and how you will define these responses. There are general and multifaceted ways in which you respond to the world. You may process important information and respond through conscious and unconscious actions, feelings, bodily reactions and behaviors. Some personalities are reflective of certain character traits — if you are a loving person for instance you will likely feel and express love more quickly or easily than you might express fear or sadness.

This story is an excerpt from my course “How to Become Really Wealthy”

©Lewis Harrison, all rights reserved.

Here are a few stories in a similar vein

@donjohnsonwrites

https://readmedium.com/aging-the-journey-to-become-a-contented-elder-3760472e34e8

@Lewiscoaches

Before you go…

I am Lewis Harrison, a successful entrepreneur, and advisor to philanthropists. I am also the award-winning author of over twenty books on business, leadership, personal growth, and strategic thinking. I offer programs, course, and coaching. I also teach seminars and speak on personal development, and life strategies. Reach out to me at askLewis.com

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