Spiritual Benefits of Meditation

May 3, 2023July 18, 2023 / Robert Bruton / Leave a comment

Meditation is an ancient practice used for thousands of years to calm the mind, gain spiritual insights, and improve overall well-being. While some people might associate meditation with specific religions, it is a secular practice that anyone can do regardless of their spiritual or religious beliefs. So, if you are looking to enhance your spiritual growth and improve your life, here are ten positive things that meditation can offer you:

Reduced Stress and Anxiety: One of the primary benefits of meditation is its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. By focusing on your breath and quieting your mind, you can lower your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, which can lead to a calmer and more peaceful state of mind.
Increased Self-Awareness: Through regular meditation practice, you can cultivate a greater sense of self-awareness. You may become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, which can help you to identify negative patterns and habits that may be holding you back from achieving your goals.
Improved Concentration: Meditation has been shown to enhance concentration and focus. By training your mind to remain present at the moment, you can improve your ability to stay focused on tasks and activities for extended periods.
Greater Emotional Resilience: Meditation can help build emotional resilience by allowing you to detach from your thoughts and emotions. By observing your thoughts without judgment or attachment, you can develop greater inner strength and stability in the face of life’s challenges.
Enhanced Creativity: Meditation has been shown to enhance creativity by quieting the mind and allowing new ideas and inspiration to flow. Many writers, artists, and musicians use meditation as a tool for improving their creativity and developing their craft.
Improved Sleep: Regular meditation practice can help improve your sleep quality. By reducing stress and calming the mind, you may fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply, increasing energy and vitality throughout the day.
Increased Compassion: Meditation can help cultivate greater compassion and empathy for others. By becoming more aware of your thoughts and emotions, you may better understand the experiences and feelings of those around you.
Greater Spiritual Insight: For those on a spiritual path, meditation can provide a powerful tool for gaining insight and clarity. By quieting the mind and turning inward, you can connect with your inner guidance and intuition, which can help you to make better decisions and live a more fulfilling life.
Improved Physical Health: Meditation has been shown to have various physical health benefits, including reducing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, and improving immune function. Regular meditation practice can also help reduce chronic pain symptoms and improve overall well-being.
Greater Sense of Inner Peace: Finally, one of the most significant benefits of meditation is its ability to cultivate a greater sense of inner peace and contentment. By regularly practicing meditation, you may find that you are better able to remain calm and centered in the face of life’s ups and downs and experience a greater sense of overall well-being and happiness.

woman sitting on the floor while meditating — Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

Meditation is a powerful tool for improving your spiritual growth and overall well-being. By incorporating a regular meditation practice into your daily routine, you can experience these ten positive benefits. Whether you want to reduce stress, improve your concentration, or gain greater spiritual insight, meditation can help you achieve your goals and live a more fulfilling life.

Mental Health Wellness

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023 / Robert Bruton / Leave a comment

You can do several things daily to promote good mental health and wellness. Here are some of the best practices:

Practice mindfulness: This involves being present at the moment and paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment. It can be done through meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simply taking a few minutes to focus on your senses.
Exercise: Regular exercise has been shown to improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase self-esteem. Even a short walk or stretching session can positively impact mental health.
Get enough sleep: Sleep is essential for good mental health. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night and establish a regular sleep routine.
Connect with others: Social connections and supportive relationships are essential for mental health. Make time to connect with friends and family, join a club or group that interests you, or volunteer in your community.
Practice gratitude: Focusing on the positive things in your life and expressing gratitude can improve mood and overall well-being. Consider keeping a gratitude journal or taking time each day to reflect on what you are thankful for.
Take breaks: It’s important to rest and recharge throughout the day. This can include taking a short walk, listening to music, or engaging in a hobby you enjoy.
Seek professional help if needed: If you are experiencing persistent sadness, anxiety, or other mental health concerns, consider contacting a mental health professional for support and guidance.

woman with white sunvisor running — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Getting started with a positive mental health wellness routine can be challenging, but prioritizing your mental health is worth the effort. Here are some steps to help you make it a part of your daily routine:

Identify your goals: What aspects of your mental health do you want to improve? Is it reducing stress, improving mood, or practicing self-care? Identify your goals and write them down.
Create a plan: Once you have identified your goals, create a plan that includes specific actions you can take to achieve them. For example, if your goal is to reduce stress, you may plan to practice meditation or deep breathing exercises for 10 minutes each day.
Start small: Trying to change too much too quickly can be overwhelming and challenging to sustain. Instead, start with one or two small changes you can easily incorporate into your daily routine. For example, you may start by taking a 5-minute break to stretch or take a short walk during the workday.
Set reminders: It can be easy to forget to prioritize mental health when busy. Set reminders on your phone or calendar to help you remember to practice your daily routine.
Find accountability: Having someone to hold you accountable can help you stick to your routine. Consider finding a friend or family member interested in prioritizing their mental health or joining a support group.
Celebrate progress: Celebrate small wins and progress towards your goals. This will help you stay motivated and reinforce positive habits.

Remember that everyone’s journey toward good mental health is unique; finding a routine that works best for you may take time. Be patient and kind to yourself as you explore different strategies and see what works for you.

Glitzy Trains Daddy to do New Trick

July 7, 2019July 15, 2019 / Robert Bruton / Leave a comment

For those of you that follow the chronicles of Glitzy. One of the most spoiled dogs on the planet. She has again outdone herself! I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So, two nights ago, about 2:37 AM. I hear a bark coming from the living room. A precocious bark only Glitzy can make. Several attempts were made to call her to no avail.

The trek for the living room begins. Glitzy continue the sharp bark as I look at Glitzy to ask, “what do you want, Glitzy?” I’m scanning the room for toys, bones, or other potential daddies fetch for my items. Not seeing anything I sit on the couch.

Glitzy stands up and paws me as she does when asking to be picked up. Grabbing her, I put her on the couch. Immediately she makes a couple of turns and flops next to me to go back to sleep. She wanted to sleep on the couch and thought it was a good idea for me to be there with her.

She seriously called me down to the living room and wanted me to sit not lay on the couch so she could go back to sleep. Yes, diva is never too strong a word for my Glitzy.

Glitzy Obeying the Leash Law

Now we have gone from barking in bed at night for me to move so she can get a new spot she wants, too bringing me to the living room so she can sleep on the couch next to me on her couch blanket (yes Glitzy has couch blankets, floor blankets and blankets on the bed).

As I am typing this article, my fur baby is staring at me, as I suspect she will have me fetching something for her forthwith. I was right she has gone to the bedroom, now barking. It’s the afternoon so she will want me to lay down so she can watch a movie. If you’ve read about Glitzy, you will know she loves to watch movies.

For now, this is the end until Glitzy trains me to perform a new service for her!

Glitzy a Spoiled Dog’s Life

October 25, 2018May 18, 2020 / Robert Bruton / 1 Comment

For those of you that have pets, I am sure some of you may be able to relate to having a spoiled dog. Glitzy is on the outer rim of spoiled, I love Glitzy and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Her latest antics are pretty fun and worth a story.

This will help set the stage for her latest thing knowing a little story of how she communicates with me.

One night a couple of years ago, Glitzy would come to me while I was on the couch and bark at me. She had food, water, bones, and everything to make a princess dog a princess dog. She just wouldn’t stop barking at me.

I got up looking around, talking to her, “what do you want?” When I walked by the bedroom door, she walked in and jumped on the bed. Now, I figured out what she wanted; it was time to go to bed. So every night since that night around 9:00 PM she will come to me and bark because it’s time for bed.

If I obey her, the barking stops, if I don’t, it only gets worse!

So what is Glitzy’s new command for me you might ask???

For the last two nights, she wakes up. When she wants me to get up, she puts her front paws on me and pushes. Now she doubles that with her bossy bark.

So while trying to translate her bark into what the heck she wants. I am looking for her bone, doesn’t want that. Looking around the bed to see if I can see what she wants, I turn over and move the opposite direction of where I was laying, she, in turn, jumps over me and puts her paw to indicate covers please (she also has a command for sheets).

She decided I needed to roll over the other way so she could move to a new spot and have me so she could cuddle up next to me to go back to sleep under the covers.