For the past eight years, I have lived a life that is satisfying and fulfilling in many ways. After years of working to find my way through what seemed like a maze, it was like a gift from above to find myself in the land of blue skies. I give credit to the medical professionals, mental health professionals, and medications and natural health remedies. However, my biggest appreciation goes to the practice of meditation and contemplation. Yes, these two are different things. I include both in my spiritual practices that make up my spiritual life. In the practice of contemplation, I read inspirational materials and quietly think about the things I read. Without a doubt, it is the time I spend in the stillness and silence of meditation that give me the biggest rewards in my whole person – body, mind, heart and spirit. I found this article in the bp magazine. Here I offer another consumer’s words about the many benefits to meditation.
“The keen sound of silence”
I had expected that medication alone could treat my bipolar disorder, but it did not and cannot. This is because medication can’t make me build a life, change a behavior, or modify a relationship. This is a column about silence. To me silence is about “quieting the mind”. Silence isn’t about remaining in a soundless environment, but making a trip toward it. Silence is a connector – to myself, to God, to community, to love. It has a therapeutic value. Both within and following silence, I can slow down my responses, resist temptation, navigate around triggering events, and choose new thoughts and behaviors. Silence also has spiritual value – I use it as a form of prayer. I ask the universe to consider me and that I might hear wisdom. Silence is also free, non-prescription, multipurpose, in abundance, and available 24 hours a day. There’s enough for all of us. Lizzie Simon – writer, producer, and guest lecturer
