Meditation is a practical approach to mindfulness and peace. It deals with a person’s physical and mental energy, working beyond the sensory perception. Through meditation, we are able to eliminate the conflict between the conscious and subconscious mind toward balanced functioning of our entire being. For some people, meditation can be very challenging. It’s completely normal to feel your mind wandering through thoughts and feelings of restlessness, especially if you’re new to meditation. Meditating does get easier over time with practice though. So, it’s important to be consistent with your practice and not quit. If you have just introduced meditation to your daily routine, you may want to try different meditation techniques to see what works best for you.
What is Open-Eyed Meditation?
Meditation is often associated with closing the eyes to go inward and focus the attention on internal processes like breathing. So, open-eyed meditation may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think about meditation. However, many people find open-eyed meditation easier, more beneficial, and sustainable over longer periods of time. The advocates of open-eye meditation believe that this technique allows you to be aware of your surroundings while still being centered and mindful. To practice open-eye meditation, you keep your eyes open or partially open, maintaining a gentle and relaxed gaze, without focusing on a particular object.
What are the Benefits of Open-Eyed Meditation?
Open-eye meditation, like any other meditation practice, has several benefits. Not only it helps with relaxation and mindfulness, but it also encourages you to be more aware of your surroundings. This sense of heightened awareness deepens your appreciation for the external environment, making it feel more vibrant and fulfilling. The open-eyed meditation also known as open monitoring meditation additionally increases your cognitive flexibility, making you more adaptable to new experiences. Research confirms that the resultant cognitive flexibility enhances the ability to make decisions and solve problems.
How Do I Do Open-Eyed Meditation?
Take a few deep breaths, simply relax your eyes and soften your gaze, so that your vision and eyesight is not dominating your other senses. Start meditating with your eyes about 30% open, gazing downward. If you are new to meditation, try to practice for just a few minutes in the beginning. Decide how long you’d like to meditate for and set an alarm to help keep track of the duration of your practice. Always end you meditation with gratitude.
Open-Eyed Meditation at Work?
Open-Eye meditation can be done in nature, at home, on your commute to work (of course if you’re not the one driving), or at work. It’s best to find a comfortable position in a well-lit peaceful location. But you can also practice at your desk as long as there are no distractions in the environment where you’re meditating.
Meditation can be a wonderful tool, especially for busy professionals. There are many different meditation techniques, and one technique isn’t better than the other. It is key to note that each of us has unique physical and mental needs. So, if you’re planning to take advantage of the benefits of meditation to introduce more peace, serenity, and mind clarity to your life, start by figuring out which meditation technique, location and time work best for you as an individual.