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Deepak Chopra: “Meditating is not fighting against a thought, but learning to understand it”
Meditation
The writer and speaker talks about how meditation can help us defeat stress, the so-called disease of the XNUMXst century
Deepak Chopra (New Delhi, 1946) he knows about many things, but above all he knows about meditation. And mindfulness, yoga, breathing techniques … in short, everything that connects us with ourselves, and makes us feel better. The doctor, who has published almost a hundred books on these subjects, many hang the title of eminence on his shoulders. Since he appeared on the Oprah Winfrey program in 93, his name has been established as one of the greatest experts in the field.
Chopra bases most of his theories on “the power of the mind.” And although this raises detractors, it also has the support of many. During these last years he has focused his efforts in the field of meditation. Even during the increasingly distant days of quarantine, a 21-day meditation challenge proposed by the doctor went viral. Now, it has partnered with Fitbit to create a mindfulness program in which to make small meditation “pills” available to anyone so they can practice anywhere and find some peace of mind even in the most unlikely situations. We spoke with Deepak Chopra at ABC Wellness about the importance of meditation, how we can get into the habit, and what we can do to find a little “haven of peace” on a daily basis.
Do you think meditation has become more important than ever?
Yes, it is more important than ever, not only because we are experiencing a lot of stress, but because it has become a collective experience. Right now the world is full of information, of struggles, of violence in society; there is climate change, wars … All of these are collective behaviors and dynamics that lead to stress; that’s why meditation is more important right now than anything else.
If we want to start meditating, what is the first thing to keep in mind?
The main thing is to understand that we can meditate at any time. You just have to stop and acknowledge the stress we are feeling. By doing this, even for a few minutes, we focus this period of time on ourselves, and the effects are usually immediate.
Should we create a special place to meditate?
It is always preferable, but in today’s society we must learn to meditate anywhere. If you can imagine a place, then you can meditate there. You can do it on the bus, on the train going home, at an airport, on a bank on the street … anywhere; the site is not an impediment. For this reason, one can get used to meditating at certain times, although it is true that the ultimate goal is to be able to have a special place and time to dedicate to meditation.
And what happens if we feel that this meditation is not for us?
So dance, or read poetry or listen to music or watch a comedy that makes you happy. Maybe later you will see that this is another way of meditating. For example, walking through nature, connecting with the natural environment, are elements that take you to the source of the experience. If you get to that point, you may find that mediation is for you.
What would you say to those who believe that meditating is the same as stopping thinking?
Meditation does not stop you from thinking, it guides you to find the place where thoughts begin. Meditation goes further into the mind, to the source of our thoughts, and opens up an infinite amount of possibilities. It encourages creativity; nourishes our interior, our intuition. Meditating is not fighting a thought, or eliminating it, but learning to understand it.
So if meditating helps us get in touch with what we think, is it good to have that ‘contact’ with stress as well?
At first, when people feel overwhelmed, it is because they come into contact with their subconscious mind and are afraid of denying what they feel. Therefore, connecting with it, one can feel very stressed. But, once we stay in that sensation, and we hear what the stress that the body feels has to say, we begin to accept it, and the reduction of the sensation begins.
One of the biggest stressors in our life is technology. How can we use it to take advantage of it?
That’s, for example, just what a new minfdfulness program that I created in collaboration with Fitbit is looking for. The idea is to use technology to feel calmer. Technology can be disruptive; can generate distractions and stress, but if we use it selectively, and on a schedule, to avoid these distractions I am talking about, then up to a little time Small using it can increase our well-being, as long as it is used with head, avoiding the multitasking.
And what exactly does this program consist of?
It’s called the “Mindful method by Deepak Chopra »and ranges from mindfulness focused on emotions to the more corporal, or that which has to do with our relationships. There are also yoga practices, and it has the ability to measure the stress that our body has at a specific moment, to be able to “take action” immediately and see results.
How can we include mindfulness in our daily routine?
The most important thing is to create a schedule. Just like you ‘schedule’ your meals, when you sleep or your free time, you can dedicate a daily time to meditation, even if it is a few minutes, and you will start to see immediate changes.
Why is breath control so important in our day to day?
We meditate to improve our physical and emotional well-being; for our spiritual well-being, to have healthier personal relationships and to reduce inflammation in the body. Stress and depression are related to chronic diseases. Once we start meditating, our lifestyle changes automatically: you sleep better, you feel better, you are more aware of the decisions you make.
There are many breathing techniques that we can use. There are them to increase our energy, to relax, to go to sleep. You can look for them to help people, by breathing consciously, improve their life.