Mind Over Matter: How To Use Meditation For Addiction And Cravings

There are many pleasures available to us in life, from food, to sex, to alcohol, to sporting and leisurely activities. And while having regular doses of these things is a good thing, as it keeps us happy, sometimes the frequency of these desires becomes beyond what is normal, to the point of desiring them without really thinking of the possible consequences. This is when simple desires become an addiction, and addictive cravings can be very hard to resist, especially when both the mind and body are hooked. There are many ways to deal with addiction and cravings, but one such way you can do on a regular basis is “mindful meditation.”

Why are cravings strong?

Depending on what is being craved for, a craving is strong because it comes from the subconscious, after consciously satisfying the body and mind with a certain thing or activity. And when something is desired by the subconscious, it can be very hard to break free from it.

One of the big reasons why cravings are so hard to break off of is the association between the craving, and the reward. Many of us experience rewards on a daily basis, but addicts and cravers desire the rewards beyond simply just liking them. And that's what makes a craving and addiction so powerful, because many times the rewards are thought to be unreachable through any other means.

What is mindfulness?

Put it simply, mindfulness is exerting effort to focus one's attention towards something specific. Thoughts that may end up distracting the person are deliberately nudged away to be able to focus. This is usually associated with time, focusing one's attention on the present moment, but can be used for everything else.

When mindfulness is used as meditation, that is, contemplating in a peaceful yet controlled manner, the addiction and craving, it can be a very powerful tool. It is composed of three key elements: remembering, being aware, and putting attention to it. The person needs to be aware of the craving they wish to take control of, put all their attention to it, and remember why they want to take control of it, keeping it in its place.

What mindfulness does in terms of cravings and addiction is they become better in living in the present, not worrying about the future rewards when they satisfy their addiction and not feeling bad about the past givings-in to their cravings. This helps them get rid of the wrong pleasant emotions they feel when they give in to the cravings, and the unpleasant emotions of guilt afterwards.

More importantly, mindfulness meditation increases the person's ability to be more aware of the cravings they are trying to get rid of, or avoid, or reduce. This goes hand in hand with their self-awareness, which has an overall benefit for the person, as they are able to be more accepting of themselves, which leads to less stress and anxiety, and give them more control of their emotions, which in turn strengthens their resolve against their cravings.

It is the exact opposite of what a vicious cycle is!

How to perform mindfulness meditation

Mindfulness meditation is done almost like any other meditation method, which we outlined in a previous blog post here. But in general, it involves the following basic steps:

- Sitting comfortably with good posture, depending on the kind of meditation selected.

- Controlled, deep breathing to relax the mind and body

- Focusing on the breath and nothing else (at least in the beginning.) Anything related to the breathing (how it fills the lungs with air, how the air rushes in the nostrils, for example) can be used as focal points.

- When the mind begins to wander, or more importantly, think about the craving, this is when extra steps are to be taken. Depending on your level of mindfulness or control, this can be any of the following:

1. ) gently nudging your mind away from thinking about the craving and focusing on the breathing.
2. ) focusing on the triggers of the craving. Why did you think and feel about the craving despite meditating and focusing on the breathing?
3. ) recognizing the emotions that arise from feeling the craving. Did you feel excited at the prospect of giving in? Do you feel angry or frustrated that you're meditating instead of indulging?
4. ) taking control and telling yourself that you are not your craving and your addiction, and that you dictate whether or not it makes you happy.

Ultimately, mindfulness meditation is really about what the name implies: being more mindful. It is about focusing and recognizing the craving, and dealing with it. Try it for anything that you feel is starting to take control of your life, rather than the other way around, and it can do wonders! To help you, you can listen to a binaural beats track for focus so you can laser pinpoint your craving and take control of it. Like this track here:

Related articles:

Meditation Improves Business Productivity
Meditation for Physical Performance
4 Kinds Of Meditation That Will Bring Your Business To The Next Level
Group Meditation Is The Untapped Team Building Activity To Increase ProductivityTranscending Barriers: Explaining The Religious Ties And Answering The Supposed Dangers Of Meditation 

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Transcending Barriers: Explaining The Religious Ties And Answering The Supposed Dangers Of Meditation

As a form of relieving stress, improving productivity, and gaining deeper personal understanding, meditation has been gaining popularity in recent years, now being used by everyone from Yoga practitioners to CEOs of major corporations. But despite its rise in the popular culture, many people still misunderstand, and sometimes even fear and dislike, the idea of meditation. This is due to lack of information or even misinformation spread about the practice. Today, we’ll discuss what meditation really is about and why it transcends the barriers of religion, race, culture, and lifestyle.


What exactly is meditation?

As we previously discussed, meditation is a state of mind wherein it is emptied of whatever may trouble or disturb you, to pause and be at peace with oneself and be calm. By this definition, something as simple as sitting down and relaxing in silence, to something more complex like doing calligraphy, can be considered “meditation.” But the most common practice is that of finding a space where one can be quiet and undisturbed, and simply relaxing and being at peace.
Now, this is where the definition ends (in a simple manner) and the speculation and misinformation begin.


Meditation and religion

Meditation is not a religious practice, and does not denote that you are following a specific religion. However, different religions actually have their own ways of meditation, whether it is acknowledged as such or not.

For example, in the Hindu mantra meditation is very similar to the Christian rosary prayer, with both constantly repeating a specific verse and prayer in a solemn manner.
Judaism’s Qabalah, which is Hebrew for “to receive and reveal” follows a tradition that requires the students to transform their inner selves with the external, assimilating symbols’ characteristics via meditation.

Islamic tradition requires a Muslim to pray at least 5 times a day, during which time they focus and meditate on God by reciting the Qur’an, strengthening the ties between God and man.

And then there’s Buddhism, where Buddha himself, Siddhartha Gautama, is known to have reached enlightenment while meditating under a Bodhi tree. Different variants of Buddhism, such as Zen Buddhism, emphasize the importance of “emptying the mind” in their practice of Zazen, or Zen meditation, wherein the person stays in a seated position similar to Siddhartha, to allow the unconscious mind to be one with the universe.

There are many other religions and variants thereof, with their own versions of traditional meditation, even though it is not formally called as such. But the basic principle is that if it is a solemn practice, that requires some form of spiritual connection, involves either introspection or extrospection, and aims to bring mental peace and calm, it can be classified as a form of meditation.


Meditation is dangerous? Makes you prone to evil influence?

There are some groups of people who fear that the spiritual connections done during meditations make cause the meditating person to be prone to evil influences, whether it be demonic possession, or becoming a portal for evil spirits, or simply tapping into dark desires that lay dormant within. Others fear awakening supernatural powers, like being psychic or opening the third eye. And then there’s the fear of awakening the kundalini, also known as the “serpent spirit” and the root chakra.

We will discuss these dangers in a future post, but right now, all you need to know is this: these are all merely hurdles, distractions, and possible fears for your meditation session. As with all kinds of meditation, focus is key, and to lose focus due to these distractions and fears is to hinder your meditation progress.

Also, remember that meditation induces certain brainwave patterns, and each one has side-effects if there is an imbalance in the amount produced.  Included in these side-effects are seeing visions and hallucinations, experiencing feelings of dread and fear, as well as a gripping sense of anxiety. All of which may be attributed to the supposed dangers of meditation that are being spread by those who have had meditation experiences that have gone astray.

As with all things, focus and understanding are keys to achieving a fruitful meditation experience. Binaural beats can help with this as it regulates and induces the right amounts of brainwaves to enhance the meditation experience. Try it out with this binaural beats track for spiritual meditation, which will quiet the mind and reduce if not entirely eliminate the risks of meditation.

Group Meditation Is The Untapped Team Building Activity To Increase Productivity

It has been shown that meditation can improve business productivity, as we discussed in a previous blog post. This is done by decreasing stress, improving focus, and relaxing the mind and body so they can be rejuvenated. But what is done individually, by business owners, executives, managers, and employees, to improve their productivity, can also be done in a group, which will have a different dynamic, but increase the benefits even more.

Why a group?

There is a saying. “Surround yourself with people with the same goals as you.” This is because any activity done in a group that is able to support one another, through their actions and energies, yields more results. Just like an ant trying to lift a rock alone, versus a group of ants working in unison to lift the same rock.

But you might be asking: meditation is not a physical activity, so how will doing it in a group give better results?

Have you ever gone to a concert, or a sporting event, and every time the band plays a really good song, or your home team scores a critical shot, you feel uplifted by the sheer energy of the crowd? Many people refer to this as the “electricity” of the crowd, or the “vibe” of the crowd, just making the experience all the more amplified, versus watching the concert or the game at home alone.

The same principles apply with group meditation. When you're with the group, with the same goals, the same purpose, you will feel the vibrations from the crowd amplify your own, and improving the experience. Not only that, doing it with the group let's you share the experience with them, which results in a better bond forming with the people involved. And it is this that can improve your business and take it to the next level.

How to set a group meditation session

The first thing that needs to be done is to determine a suitable size for the group, and the right venue for them. If the group is too small, then the meditation session might not be amplified enough. Too big, and it can be difficult to conduct and control, especially if there are members who might not be there for the right reasons.

A good way is this: if you or the company you work for is small, around 15-20 people, include everyone. If it is big, meditation groups can be the employee teams themselves, with the team leader or manager being the meditation conductor.

A small business, like a cafe or a restaurant, can use the main floor venue as the meditation area by pushing aside the chairs and tables and making enough space. Not only does this save money and time, it also gives the staff the idea that their own place of work is not just for work, but can be a place of sanctuary and peace, a place to call home if need be. If it is a big company, a conference room can be used. In fact, it is highly advisable for businesses that will regularly use meditation to devote a room specifically for meditation, where individuals or groups can go to and just meditate.

Next step is to decide on a goal. Is the meditation to simply provide relaxation? Is it to focus on a particular goal? Is it to promote inter-personal dynamics? Is it to be introspective in order to be a better employee and team member? This will also determine which kind of meditation for business you can use for your session.

Once the goal is set up, determine who will lead the meditation session. As a business owner, manager, or team leader, it is good if you know how to meditate, as this will help in leading a group meditation session. As an employee, you can volunteer to take the lead and show initiative even if your position is not the highest in the team or company. Just be sure that whoever will lead the group meditation has experience in meditation.

Finally, invite the people who will be involved ahead of time, explaining the details of the meditation session, and to make sure they arrive prepared (perhaps they will need their own cushion or have not done meditation before; include a primer in the email, like a short description of what it is.) This will make sure that they enter the venue with the right idea in mind, and not be surprised or taken aback by what they will see.

From there, conducting the meditation is very similar to the steps of the different kinds of meditation for business, or any meditation method you choose. Set up each employee's space, give a brief and solemn talk about the purpose of the session, and then begin. One is leading the actions, like calling for proper inhales and exhales at the properly timed cues, or leading the mantra for the group to follow.

Meditation in a quiet place is good, but adding a speaker system to play a binaural beats track for meditation can also increase the meditation's potency. Listen to this binaural beats meditation track for motivation and success and give it a try on your next meditation session! 

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4 Kinds Of Meditation That Will Bring Your Business To The Next Level

Meditation has many different benefits for business and work, as we have discussed in a previous blog post: it trains the mind to be focused and clear of distractions, makes it more goal oriented, and so on. Meditation benefits businesses so much that giants like Google have made it part of their operations. But what kind of meditation should you use for yourself, for your work, your employees, or your business? Below are 4 of the best kinds of meditation for businesses that you can choose from.

1.) Zen Meditation - tracing its roots in the Chinese Zen Buddhist tradition and all the way back to Indian monk Bodhidharma, Zen Meditation is a very deep, somber kind of meditation whose aim is to keep the mind empty of thought. It relies heavily on keeping a proper posture as a way of helping the person concentrate, and not be distracted by many different things.

Steps:

•  Find a place where you can sit, either on the floor over a mat, pillow, or some other cushion in a crossed-leg position, or on a nice comfortable chair with an upright backrest. Those who want to do this in the more traditional manner can go in a lotus or half lotus position, although this can be quite a challenge for beginners. 
• It is important that the back is kept upright and straight, with the eyes focused on the ground in front of you (around 3-4 feet on the floor) and the mouth completely closed, breathing mostly through the nose. 
• Focus on the breathing, slow, steady inhales and exhales that are of the same pace all the way. If this is difficult to do without any distractions, find a point on the floor where your eyes can focus, and keep looking at it as you breathe. Try to drown out everything else, be as empty and steady as you can, and just “be”.

2.) Mantra Meditation – Often used in Hindu tradition, a mantra may be a syllable, word, or in some cases, phrase, although phrases are only often used when trying to use the mantra as a form of affirmation. The mantra is then the focus of the meditation, feeling the vibration of the syllable or word when pronounced, and absorbing its meaning in the process.

This kind of meditation is especially useful for minds that are full of random thoughts, doubts, or full of high speed activity. This is because consistently pronouncing the mantra takes  effort, and in doing so, pulls the mind away from whatever is bothering it.

Steps:

• Like Zen, find a spot where you can sit comfortably, usually on the floor in a crossed-leg position. Make sure that your spine is erect from the hips to the nape of the head.
• Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and pronounce the mantra. The pronunciation is usually as long as your slow exhale (in fact the mantra is often a substitute for an exhale) and can be done consistently over a set period of time. 
• The pronunciation of the mantra is from deep inside the body, and will cause mental and physical vibrations. Be aware and absorb the vibrations as they happen.

3.) Qigong (Chi kung) Meditation – defined literally as “life energy cultivation”, Qigong meditation is one that integrates mind and body. Qigong as a whole can be used for a number of things, from martial arts to simple exercises, but is also used in meditation, and focuses on a variety of breathing and muscle control techniques. We will discuss the exact details of Qigong Meditation in a future discussion, but in general, Qigong focuses on the “Qi”, or “chi” as it is known in the West, the vital energy.

Qigong Meditation is perfect for those who seek both a mental and physical kind of meditation, as it can be integrated in different movements should the need arise.

Steps:

• Sit in any comfortable position, although the traditional meditative position is the best.
• Relax and calm not just your mind, but your body. Feel your muscles relax, your internal organs slow down, and your nerves be less tense. Regulate the breathing to make it slower, deeper, longer, and softer. 
• Internalize and focus on the body’s center of gravity, called the “lower dantien”, and is located around 2 inches below the navel. Keep focusing to gather vital qi into it. The dantien is the natural gathering place of vital energy, and focusing on it is the key to build qi there.
• Visualize and then feel the qi coursing through your body, rejuvenating it along with your mind.

4.) Self-investigative Meditation – A form of meditation tracing its roots in old Hindu traditions, Self-Investigative or Self-Enquiry meditation seeks to uncover who a person truly is, from the inside. The goal is to learn the “True Self”, which can only be found by internalizing and getting answers from the inner self.

This is a good form of meditation for professionals who are at an impasse with their careers, whether due to self-doubt, or due to a desire that they are not sure of, as it answers the very fundamental question, “Who Am I?”

Steps:

• Start by following the basic setup from the previous meditation styles: sitting properly, controlled breathing, and emptying the mind.
• But instead of a mantra, or breathing, or qi, focus on internally asking the question, “Who Am I?” or the phrase “I Am…” This will be your focal point.
• Ignore any impulse to verbally answer or affirm these. Simply use the phrases as an anchor deep within, and repeatedly ask or say it until the True Self answers back.
• If there is even a slight feeling of bias from the answer, discard it, and ask again. You will know when the answers are revealed by the True Self when it feels unconnected to any concept or bias, when it is beyond any intellectual, financial, practical, and emotional pursuits, and is simply a pure feeling of being one with the True Self. This may take a  lot of tries, as it seeks to answer a very introspective question, but the process itself already yields the benefits of meditation.

These are the 4 best kinds of meditation for business, as each one seeks to tackle each of the fundamental issues of business. To aid in your meditation, binaural beats tracks can be used, such as this binaural beats track for meditation and success in attracting money here:

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Meditation for Physical Performance

We previously discussed how meditation can help in business, whether as a business owner, a manager, or as an employee. But the same benefits that businesses can enjoy from meditation, also translate to one’s physical performance, whether in sports or just recreational activities. In fact, meditation is now being integrated into sports training programs offered by different trainers, just like how binaural beats are being used as part of mental conditioning. It is a logical path to take, seeing as how an athlete or a fighter cannot win if they are already mentally weakened by different factors. And this is where meditation comes in.


Not a new concept

Meditation for physical performance is actually not a new concept. In fact, it is perhaps as old as the idea of meditation itself! In ancient times, warriors would spend time focusing their thoughts and emptying their mind of fear and distraction in order to be better fighters. In times of peace, the same ancient warriors who compete in friendly competition did the same before a match. While the process done by our ancient ancestors does not exactly fit the idea of meditation as we know it today, the fundamentals, and the results, were the same, although back then, it was understood as a spiritual effect. In modern times, many athletes refer to the time they spend alone, in silence, before a match, as “being in the zone” without realizing that they are actually tapping into the principles of meditation.

Eventually, athletes and their trainers discovered scientifically why meditation worked in training the mind to function properly during an athletic or physical performance. Russians started the idea of “neurogenic conditioning” in which the nervous system of athletes were deliberately trained and conditioned in order to improve their functioning, and part of this training included meditation.


Why it works

Aside from the aforementioned benefits of brainwave therapy through meditation we previously discussed, wherein meditation helps produce brainwaves in the right amounts to achieve different results, meditation done for sports or other physical activities conditions the mind the same way muscle memory training conditions the body.

A mind that is full of doubt and other thoughts that can impede the functioning of a bodily process can cause that said process to not be executed at 100%, resulting in sub-par performance. But emptying the mind of those doubts and distractions is not simple and easy, and can only be done by constantly practicing meditation, whose effect is to remove all unnecessary thoughts to achieve a state of relaxation and peace.

But why does the mind being empty help in physical performance?

Because it allows the mind to use up all its capacity to command the body to perform at its fullest.
Picture this. Have you ever tried cutting a piece of paper down a straight line with a pair of scissors, only for the cut to be crooked whenever a random thought enters your head, or you suddenly have a doubt about your next movement?

That is how meditation can help the athlete. Regular practice of meditation allows the athlete’s mind to stay solid and be calm regardless of whatever scenario it is put in. This is most especially valuable in high pressure events, wherein the slightest self-doubt or the smallest distraction can mean the difference between losing focus and losing, or staying focused and winning.

But as mentioned above, it is not just beneficial to athletes. Soldiers, policemen, emergency services personnel, doctors, dancers, firefighters, and all the other professions that require a lot from the body’s capabilities to perform, can benefit from meditation.


How is it done?

Traditional meditation methods are the most common ways to practice meditation for physical performance. Usually done before or after a training session, and before an event, one can find a nice quiet place to stay in, sit down, and perform the basic meditation techniques we discussed in our previous post, by focusing on slow, deep breaths, and trying to empty the mind.

But there’s another form of meditation that can be done by athletes: having a mantra.

Having a goal as a mantra, and repeatedly thinking about it as one practices, aids in mental conditioning and helps clear the mind when that specific action is done. For instance, a coach makes a comment to a basketball player’s jump shot, telling him to “roll the ball” as they release it. Constantly repeating “roll the ball, roll the ball” in the mind during practice, can have dramatic results.


Not just for athletes

Meditation employed in this manner is not just for athletes. Anyone who enjoys any physical activity, and wants to be better and better at it, can use meditation to reap its benefits. So start meditating today! Listen to this binaural beats track for meditation to motivate and promote positivity and success, and improve your performance ASAP!

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Meditation Improves Business Productivity

Many people often associate meditation with spirituality, finding inner peace and achieving nirvana, and only done by those following a certain religion, or a practitioner of a far-eastern martial art. It is so old fashioned, that it’s something that no one in the modern world has time for, right? Well that couldn’t be further from the truth, because science has shown that meditation has its place in modern society, and one such place is, as we will be discussing, so unlikely that those not in the know might not even expect it: Business.


What is meditation?

Depending on your source, meditation may have different meanings. But each has one thing in common. Meditation is a state of mind wherein it is emptied of whatever may trouble or disturb you, to pause and be at peace with oneself and be calm. Contrary to popular belief, meditation is not an action: it is a state of mind and awareness; often we can see someone trimming some plants, doing calligraphy, or some other similar act, and still be meditating just the same as someone who is in a lotus position in a garden. But the latter is the common image and way of performing meditation.


How does it help me in business/work?

The main benefits of meditation for business, both for employer and employee are very valuable. In fact, meditation, as it was discovered by the Harvard Business School, and INSEAD, Europe’s top business school, is one of the two most effective business tools for executives and employees (the other being intuition.) Meditation affects the individual, going up to the team, and all the way to the entire business organization, all the while positively influencing each branch to bring overall results.

Meditation actually helps solve the four key components for a successful business, namely:

1. Coming up with, and adhering to a clear vision of the business’ goals
2. To be inspired and innovative in the way they provide their product or service to the market
3. Proper leadership
4. Solid teamwork

And it does so by doing the following:


Benefits of meditation

1. Stress relief – one of the things that can bog down a person’s productivity the most is stress. Stress caused by overworking, or anxiety about deadlines, can compound the problems further, bogging down the business engine even more. And stress can actually affect the person physically, causing loss of energy, slower thinking, and even other health issues. Meditation relieves stress and rejuvenates the mind to be able to do what needs to be done.
2. Improved focus and creativity – stress in work is caused by many things, and one of these is being unable to solve problems. Meditation helps this by calming the mind down, emptying it of unnecessary thoughts, and allowing the person to be mentally and emotionally well enough to focus on the problems at hand. Being creative allows the members of the business to be able to solve problems faster and more efficiently, leading to success which will provide boosts in morale and lead to even more solutions being thought of.
3. Better mental and physical health – the rigors of work and the stress that it causes can affect a person’s mental and physical well-being, from anxiety and insomnia to heart ailments and complications. Some employees have even been known to develop clinical depression! This can cause problems at work ranging from inability to achieve targets, to absences, to bad relationships with co-workers, which all lead to loss of productivity. Meditation calms the mind down, resets the heart rate to a healthier level, and reduces the risks of physical and mental problems. 
4. Better employee teamwork and relationships – staff members who meditate, whether individually or together, become more calm and easier to work with, due to their relaxed, peaceful state. This leads to better teamwork, which is critical in any business venture. Not only that, a good demeanor leads to people respecting each other better, with employers being able to trust their employees and employees being more motivated to deliver for their employers. 

What’s the science behind this?

Some may think that this is nothing more than some new-age idea embraced by some businesses as a fad. But rest assured that, if big companies like Google use it, there is a science behind it. And there is!

Our previous blog posts talked about brainwave patterns and the benefits of brainwave therapy like binaural beats. There’re Alpha Waves, which govern the brain’s cognitive, creative, and problem solving abilities, Beta Waves, which govern the brain’s focus, fight or flight response, and logic, and Delta Waves, which control the body’s healing capabilities and involuntary processes (like heart rate and breathing.)

Being able to produce the said brainwaves in the right amounts and right combinations will allow the mind to reap all of its benefits, and one way to do this is… yes, meditation.


Basics of meditation

There are many ways to meditate, and we will discuss the different methods in a future post soon, but for now, here are some basics to get you started.

First, find a plane surface you can sit straight on. Close your eyes, try to relax, and breathe slowly, in and out. To help empty your mind, focus on your own breathing, and nothing else. If you get distracted or are unable to focus, block it out, and keep your focus on your breathing. Do this for as long as needed until you feel better and relieved.

To increase your chances of being able to focus, the venue is important. If you have your own office at work, lock the doors, put a no disturb sign, close the blinds, and sit on the floor. If you don’t, find a room in the workplace where you can be alone, and do the same. If you’re a business owner, devoting a room for meditation can help your employees do this.

And finally, using binaural beats for meditation to motivate and success definitely helps. Try to listen to this track and it will definitely make you more relaxed and focused on your meditation.

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