Part II, The Relaxation Response (Stress but not Imprints)

It’s called the “Relaxation Response”. Google it and you’ll find out it takes 15 to 20 minutes of observing your breathing.

1. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed.
2. Pay attention to your breathing, and repeat a word or phrase or prayer silently to yourself as you exhale.
3. When you notice your mind wandering (It will) just notice it and passively bring your attention back to your breathing.
4. Practice for approximately 20 minutes every day (or at least 3-4 times per week). Don't set an alarm, but sit with a clock in view if necessary.

That’s it, no biggie.

The results?

You will gain increased awareness of whether you are tense or relaxed. You will be more "in touch with your body.”
You will be better able to relax when you become stressed-out.
You may even reduce the resting level of your autonomic nervous system - walking around more relaxed all the time.
Your concentration may improve. By repeatedly bringing yourself back to the meditation you are strengthening the part of your mind that decides what to think about.

Guess what, I don’t care about all that.

What it does do for you however, are things far more important.

1. It eliminates the “accumulation” of stress.

It resets your ability to handle stress to its lowest level.

2. It can prevent emotional “imprints” or “engrams” from becoming permanent.

These are “new” fight and flight responses that occur during the day, that for the most part, you are unaware of.

3. It gives you a general amount of time needed, a mere 20 minutes.

Practical consideration?

You won’t want to do it when you need to do it the most.

Feel pressured? Time constraints? Feeling negative about your horrible health issues?

That’s when you need to do it.

Very sick people should do it 3 times a day just because of negativity issues.

While meditating everyday is good, it may not be practical or for that matter, needed by everyone on a daily or even weekly basis.

A good rule of thumb you won’t like?

Take the time to do it, when you “feel” you don’t have the time for it.

Feeling “time pressures” should be synonymous with “stress”.

So? Are their limits in terms of health for meditation?

Yes. Long ago from my readings, I had projected that long term meditation might resolve “imprints”.

Sadly however, upon reading At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey by Claude AnShin Thomas a wandering mendicant monk.

It proved to my satisfaction that no amount of long term or intense meditation would resolve serious imprints such as post traumatic stress or some child abuse.

For those I now recommend EFT and it’s variants that are out there.

Onward to Part III The True Razor’s Edge