Meditation:Pathway to Well Being

Well-Being

Physical

Mental

Spiritual

Meditation

• Increases energy• Relieves stress• Reduces fatigue• Relieves insomnia• Reduces blood pressure and cholesterol• Reduces anxiety• Balances hormones• Improves self-confidence

Meditation

• Emptying or concentration of the mind• Focusing• Mindfulness• All spiritual traditions have some connection with

the practice of meditation

Meditation and Well-Being

• Stress Managemento Decrease in Cortisolso Increase in Endorphins

• Decreases Self Judgment • Diminishes Judgments of Others • Increase in Self-Esteem• Creates Inner Peace• Changes your environment

Habits of mind

“Three-Legged Stool”

• Bodyo Alert, erecto Relaxed

• Breath: connects the soul to Higher Consciousness

• Mindo Resists stillnesso Natural state is peaceo Ego wants us to think

“Four-Legged Stool”

Body Breath MindNon-Judgment

Non-Judgment

One of the keys to happiness is to stop the habit of self-judgment and self-hatred. When we stop judging ourselves we will stop judging others.Where there is no judgment, there is peace.

We go into meditation with a commitment • That the body will remain still • That the breath will be calm• That the mind will be at peace, in spite of its habits• THAT WE WILL NOT JUDGE OURSELVES…NO

MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.

Two Sides to the Story

• Both sides of the brain are always active.• The left brain is the language side.• The right brain in the side of art and feeling…of

euphoria and bliss.o “Close the language door,

Open the love window…” Rumi

Peace and the Mind

The clear sky is always there.Clouds come and cover the sky.But wind can blow them away.Clear sky remains.Clear mind, the mind at peace, is always present.Thoughts come and obscure the peace of clear mind.Mindfulness practice can blow the thoughts away, gently, with ease, and without judgment.Peace remains.

The Key to Happiness

• To still the language side of the brain so that the right brain can be heard and felt.

• A mind at peace, filled with joy, is our natural state.

Brain States

• Beta – Normal state; multi-tasking• Alpha - Focused mind; waking up• Theta – Dream state of sleep; creative;

deep meditation• Delta – Dreamless sleep; unified

consciousness oneness; rest and rejuvenation

Winter Feast for the Soul

• A worldwide 40-day spiritual practice period for all people

• January 15 – February 23 each year since 2008

Inspiration

“What nine months does for the embryoForty early morningWill do for your growing awareness.”Rumi

TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOUand Your Family

Guided meditations on line• Christian Contemplative Prayer• Tibetan Buddhist Meditation• Sufi Universal Meditation• Mindfulness/Vipassana Meditation• New Thought/Science of Mind Interdenominational

Meditation• Children (four minutes of stillness for world peace)• Mindfulness Practice for Teens

Why You Should Start To Practice Peace NOW

• for yourself• for your family• for the planet

“The world will never be at peace until peace lives in the heart of each and every person on the planet.” Pope John XXIII (1963)

Contact us: www.winterfeastforthesoul.com

Email and Phone

winterfeastforthesoul@gmail.com788-6373

Thank You.