Becoming More Mindful: Living Life With Intention Through Meditation

photo of a man meditating on top of the mountain

Did your addiction begin as a way of escaping from life, the responsibilities of adulthood and the emotions you didn’t want to face? If so, you’re not alone. Life can be stressful and challenging at times, but using drugs and alcohol can only make things worse.

That’s why many addiction recovery specialists work with clients to help them practice mindfulness through meditation. It can help you learn how to embrace your thoughts, feelings and emotions and process them in a healthy way.

Using a series of relaxation techniques, students learn how to become more comfortable with their experiences – and themselves during sobriety.

Want to learn simple meditation strategies for beginners? Here are three tips to get started!

(1) Start small. Just like anything else, you can get better with practice. But, ease yourself into it. Set a goal to practice five minutes a day for the first few sessions. That way, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and give up too quickly. Consider setting a timer on your watch or your phone to keep track of your progress.

(2) Get comfortable. Pick a spot in your home where you can sit comfortably on the floor – away from furniture and other belongings. If you have hardwood floors or tile, consider placing a yoga mat or towel on the floor to provide a little bit of cushion. Sit down in a pose where you feel relaxed. Be sure to sit up straight with your spine upright and close your eyes.

(3) Clear your mind and focus on your breath. One goal of meditation is to reduce the clutter in your mind and simply enjoy a quiet stillness. To help relax your mind, focus on the nature of your breath. The sound of breathing in and out. There is no need to control the speed or the depth. Simply try to concentrate on the repetition of your inhale and exhale.

Meditation is a great tool for recovery. It’s free, portable and provides a wealth of health benefits – supporting a strong mind and a healthy body.

Daily Readings, Reflection and Meditation

Morning meditation at 10 Acre Ranch begins with group members reading day-by-day books. After each client reads an entry, the group shares about how the reading applies to today’s treatment challenges. The overriding goal of group and individual meditation is to cultivate peace and achieve a state of calm that can be revisited during the darkest hours of addiction recovery. To learn more, call: (877) 228-4679.

Addiction Recovery: Meditation for Beginners

 

“Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak.”

– Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati

The practice of meditation may seem intimidating at first but it is actually one of the most powerful and informal therapies for addiction recovery. There are no rules for participating. All it takes is a willingness to embrace the stillness of a quiet, peaceful mind.

Given the vast number of medical and behavioral health benefits, many holistic addiction treatment centers have started to incorporate meditation therapy as part of an overall recovery program.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to find diversions to escape from the stress of everyday life. While some methods of avoiding painful emotions can offer short-term relief, they only delay the inevitable confrontation with reality.

In contrast, meditation helps to empower individuals with a personal tool to acknowledge feelings, thoughts and emotions in an effort to break through and resolve barriers to emotional growth.

Why Meditation is Great for Beginners

  • Meditation doesn’t discriminate. Regardless of your age or your physical ability, you can start to incorporate meditation into your daily routine.
  • There are zero investment costs up front. Unlike other forms of stress relief, like exercising at the gym or acupuncture, there are no membership fees or expensive pieces of equipment to purchase. By simply taking the time nurture yourself in solitude, you can reap the benefits without straining your budget.
  • You don’t have to worry about comparing yourself to others. Sometimes it can be intimidating to start a new hobby or exercise program if you’re constantly comparing yourself to others. Meditation is unique in that you can choose to practice by yourself to ensure your energy is focused solely on your recovery.

Getting Started

Meditation may seem intimidating at first, but it’s actually a very intuitive tool for supporting your mental and physical health during recovery.

Want to get started today? Find a quiet space in your home, get comfortable and just breathe.

Get the Help You Need

If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction or drug abuse, 10 Acre Ranch can help you detox. We offer personalized treatment, as well as extensive aftercare support to help you maintain your hard-won sobriety. By emphasizing exercise, nutritional balance, and recreational activities, we encourage clients to develop a healing lifestyle that sticks—during and after recovery.

Call (877) 228-4679 for program details or to discuss your customized recovery program with an addiction counselor.