Practicing Self Reflection, Silent Meditation and Self-Trust

"Sometimes the most valuable and efficient use of your time is to simply be still, allowing your mind and spirit to rest, recharge, and realign."

Michael Corthell

Silent meditation and self-reflection can be, and most often are, the most efficient use of your time. In a world that thrives on constant distractions and incessant noise, taking the time to sit in silence and turn inward can be a transformative and rejuvenating experience. In this fast-paced and interconnected age, it is easy to get caught up in external chaos, leaving little room for self-discovery and personal growth.

Engaging in silent meditation allows you to detach from external stimuli and connect with your inner self. It provides a space for introspection, where you can observe your thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgment or attachment. This process cultivates self-awareness and a deep understanding of your true nature. By pausing the constant mental chatter, you create a space for clarity, insight, and creativity to emerge.

Moreover, silent meditation and self-reflection have profound effects on mental and emotional well-being. They help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by calming the mind and soothing the nervous system. The practice encourages mindfulness, which fosters a sense of presence and gratitude for the present moment. By becoming more attuned to your thoughts and feelings, you can gain better control over your reactions and make conscious choices rather than being driven by unconscious patterns.

Furthermore, silent meditation allows you to tap into your intuition and inner wisdom. By creating stillness, you open yourself up to receive insights, inspiration, and guidance from a deeper part of yourself. This inner guidance can lead to personal transformation, helping you align with your values, passions, and purpose.

In a world that values productivity and busyness, it is essential to remember that true productivity does not always mean constant action. Sometimes the most valuable and efficient use of your time is to simply be still, allowing your mind and spirit to rest, recharge, and realign. Silent meditation and self-reflection provide a sanctuary amidst the chaos, enabling you to find peace, clarity, and a deeper connection with yourself and the world around you.

Trust yourself, to look inside yourself.

We all experience rare moments when a blinding revelation comes to us when we suddenly see things differently than ever before. Usually, however, we learn the truth about ourselves gradually, over long periods of time, from quiet introspection.

When you want something you never had,

you have to do something you've never done.

We are all spiritual, but some of us have learned to tap more effectively into the great strength that resides in the spiritual portion of ourselves. The spirit is not busy and noisy. Getting in touch with your spiritual self demands tranquility and solitude.

Make sure you dedicate a portion of each day to thought and study, to think and reflect upon your life.

''Self-trust is the first secret of success.''

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Reflection helps you assess where you have come from and where you are going. You can reflect on life in many ways. By taking a walk down memory lane you can get in touch with who you used to be and allow this information to help you improve. Then, you can create daily and monthly reflection practices that move you closer to making positive changes in your life.

''The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.''

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

You can write down some major challenges you have faced in your life. Remember how you viewed these barriers at the time and how you look at them now. Then, spend some time thinking about what you would change about the situation if you could.

The goal of meditation is to focus and quiet your mind, eventually reaching a higher level of awareness and inner calm. It may come as a surprise to many that you can meditate anywhere and at any time, allowing yourself to access a sense of tranquility and peace no matter what's going on around you. 

''Meditation can help us embrace our worries, our fear, our anger; and that is very healing.

We let our own natural capacity of healing do the work.''

– Thich Nhat Hanh

Resources

1. Books:

   • "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle
   • "Wherever You Go, There You Are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn
   • "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
   • "The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh
   • "The Untethered Soul" by Michael A. Singer

2. Meditation Apps:

   • Headspace
   • Calm
   • Insight Timer
   • 10% Happier
   • Waking Up with Sam Harris

3. Online Courses:

   • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course by Jon Kabat-Zinn
   • The Science of Mindfulness by UC Berkeley
   • Meditation for Beginners by Sharon Salzberg on Insight Timer
   • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) courses offered by various institutions

4. Retreat Centers and Workshops:

   • Plum Village (France) - Founded by Thich Nhat Hanh
   • Spirit Rock (California, USA)
   • Insight Meditation Society (Massachusetts, USA)
   • Tushita Meditation Centre (Dharamshala, India)
   • Find local meditation centers and workshops in your area

5. Online Communities and Forums:

   • r/Meditation subreddit on Reddit
   • Dharma Overground (www.dharmaoverground.org)
   • Online meditation groups on platforms like Facebook and Meetup

Remember, the journey of silent meditation and self-reflection is deeply personal, and it's important to find resources and approaches that resonate with you. These resources can serve as a starting point, but ultimately, it's about discovering what works best for you and cultivating a regular practice that supports your well-being and inner growth.

_____________

How Meditation Can Reshape Our Brains: Sara Lazar

Neuroscientist Sara Lazar's amazing brain scans show meditation can actually change the size of key regions of our brain, improving our memory and making us more empathetic, compassionate, and resilient under stress.