You’ve probably heard many times: “You have to spend money to make money,” or “To get more energy, exercise.” There’s a great song by the New Radicals, You only get what you give. So what does this have to do with meditation? Taking the time to meditate, gives you time.

This is how it works. When you sit down, relax and quiet your mind, the clutter of your thoughts clear. A bigger picture comes into focus. The priorities begin to emerge and the stressors you can’t do anything about at the moment, settle down and get compartmentalized into things-to-deal-with-later.

With overwhelm decreased, you are able to see that there’s enough time to take care of what can be accomplished in any one moment. (There’s recent research that dispels the notion that multi-tasking is more efficient.)

Like with exercise, meditation can become a positive addiction. You begin to recognize when the anxieties about too-much-to-do start taking over. When you’re standing in line waiting at the grocery store, you are aware of a choice: to fuss and complain, worrying about where you’re going next, or to let go, finding something to enjoy. You find yourself enjoying a mother’s interaction with her child or the sounds created by the register and scanner, sounds that used to irritate you.

Take a look at the accompanying photo. When you first saw it, did it look like chaos or beauty? Now that you've been focused on this article, even if you're reading it quickly, look at the photo again. What do you see? The first time you might not have really taken it in. See if you can quess what it is. I'll write it's description at the bottom of this page.

When the mind is highly focused, the sense of time is expanded. A tennis player has the experience of seeing the ball larger than normal, sensing it approaching him so slowly he has all the time he needs to prepare to hit it. During an emergency, a firefighter has sharpened awareness that allows him to perform an amazing rescue.

These are examples of being in the zone, which means being extremely focused. With meditation, the same mental shift can occur that can help with mundane tasks and responsibilities. You might find yourself relaxed and enjoying the scenery as you drive to a meeting that you had been stressed about; being more present when you cook dinner, making the meal even more delicious.

Although traditions vary on how much time is recommended for meditation, the most important thing is to do it regularly. Try this exercise for two minutes. Close your eyes and notice your thoughts as they pop at random like popcorn or float by like clouds. If you start thinking, (i.e., the popcorn is sticking together) just watch for the next thought to appear. At the end of two minutes, how do you feel? (For an expansion on this topic, see my blog entry on Jan. 17, 2010.)

Every day take a deep breath and spend a minute or two noticing your thoughts. You’ll have more time for what’s important to you.

Photo description: lights on the willow tree outside the Broadmoor Hotel in Denver, CO

As a mental health professional, an owner of a fitness studio, a writer and a wife, mother and grandmother, I have found meditation to be helpful in every aspect of my life. Let's talk... To learn about my meditation classes you can reach me at susanmmorales@yahoo.com or check out my websites: susanscottmorales.com and bodiesinbalancefitness.com