The Beauty of Meditation Substituting the Ugliness of Addiction

Throughout each of our days we endure a bit of excitement or good news hopefully, but enduring stress is inevitable too. Stress can come from various sources whether it be with work, or family matters, or financial issues, or more.

School is another matter where teenagers and college students get stressed out either over a paper, a project, a fraternity/sorority matter, or just social life in general. Once you get to college you’re 18, and therefore, are old enough to smoke and enjoy the calmness of a nice buzz.

Didn’t you at one point even have a puff or a drag at a party and thought this makes me feel good? If so, it’s not uncommon at all. We’re all human beings. Whatever takes the stress off is good enough for me.

You go throughout your collegiate career smoking, dipping, or perhaps vaping as has become increasingly common in the 2020s and is convenient. You continue doing it even after you finish up college and start working or even if you have a family.

T​here’s no question that the use of nicotine has been both a blessing and a curse for mankind for many generations. Tobacco helped to build America as a crop fueling the American economy especially during the 1800s. But as we’ve all come to find out over the years, it’s not good for you!

Worse yet, it can be addictive. Kicking the habit is a great step, and finding a substitute is even better. And we’re not talking about nicotine gum. We’re talking about the idea of clearing one’s mind as a means to clear themselves of stress.

Arguably one of the best forms of stress relief that A) does not cost anything, B) does not negatively affect one’s lungs or gums, and C) can help with self-reflection is the art of meditation.

T​he art of meditation is the idea and practice of bringing your mind to the present time, being aware of your surroundings, and placing your head in a peaceful frame of mind. Find places to do it outside either on your back porch, balcony, or if there is a nearby lake or park that you can go to do it, especially during the spring, summer, and even fall!

D​o it during exam week! Take a 20–30 minute break from studying, have some water and a snack, and then find a quiet place to go and practice.

T​he point of meditating is to fend off any negative energy or thoughts that one has, placing their mind in the present moment acknowledging all of the blessings they have in life, and relieving stress as our minds all have the tendency to be restless and anxious.

Meditation was not something I did back in college or even in the first few years of my career, but it’s a practice that has been around long before any of us. Do you know many individuals younger than the age of 20 that meditate on a weekly or even a monthly basis?

I​n general, the practice is easy, soothing, and effortless. Whether you want to do the practice for just five minutes, or 10–15 minutes, or even longer, whatever floats your boat. Even meditating for different time lengths is not a bad idea if you’re trying to find ‘the right gig for you’.

W​ho says you should only meditate once a day? If you want to do it in the morning when you wake up, or even a peaceful place either in your house or outside somewhere at night, meditation is an art as well as a hobby. There are people that work out twice or three times a day.

Developing a bit of structure with your daily or weekly routine also has the tendency to form healthier habits and thoughts especially if you get a good first few experiences meditating.

W​hen you are practicing the art of meditating, please tell yourself this: first off, I have a lot to be proud of with the person I have become, my goals and ambitions are all going to be worth while, and in the end, everything is going to be fine!

Put yourself in the best mindset possible before you start meditating. Please for your own sake try to be as glass-half-full as you possibly can no matter the circumstances at the present time.

1​00 years from now, if we continue to step up and do our part in our lives, we’re all going to be in the same place together again.

T​o some, part of the meaning of life is finding happiness and peace. And I’m not talking about world peace, unfortunately, there’s too much going on in this world, and it’s hard to imagine that will come to fruition in out lifetimes. But finding peace with where each person is at during the present moment.

Sure it sounds cliche but the statement of ‘you can’t do anything about the past or the future, you can only control the present’ has great truth to it. No you can’t do anything about the past no matter how long ago it was, and sure, people will say that you can control the future because it hasn’t happened yet. You can prepare for it and all that, sure, message received.

But how to you build a good future? By focusing on the present and taking things one day at a time. There’s no use of getting too far ahead of yourself, you will only create more stress. Planning ahead and getting oneself organized is always recommended, but don’t think too far ahead in your life with saying ‘I want this with my life, I want that with my life, I want these all within the next year or so.’

T​ry to focus on just one thing at a time, and meditation is a good art of reminding oneself that.

Addiction is always going to be powerful and have its way with humans throughout the course of time, but this is being said for not only kicking a bad habit, but developing a good and healthy habit. Even if you’ve never smoked or done nicotine in your life but also haven’t tried mediating, this reading is also for you.

A​ few good apps to try meditating to get yourself started are Breathwrk, iBreathe, Headspace: Mindful Meditation, and Insight Timer — Meditate and Sleep.

Whether it’s before bed, or after dinner, or in the morning, reward yourself and your mind with a sense of peace and gratitude whether you want to do it daily, weekly, or monthly. You will thank yourself and perhaps start seeing happier moods more consistently.