A well-developed spiritual core brings clarity and focus to our lives. It boosts the immune system, improves sleep and helps to manage emotions. In order to feel happy, each one of us needs to find a point of peace, stillness and appreciation. Through meditation and affirmation we can find that point within. Some of us shy away from meditation as we imagine a complex and painful lotus position and hours of chanting. However, meditation can be experienced in as brief a time as five minutes. When I first started to meditate, I could not imagine allocating fifteen or twenty minutes to thinking about nothingness. I would compose a food shopping list in my head during meditation class and once I even fell asleep. Thank God, I didn’t snore!

In time I discovered guided visualizations to be helpful. Reading the words of an affirmation while looking at an accompanying picture would often fuel my own imagination - stimulate my five senses. Sometimes I wanted to enter the picture because it was so beautiful, comforting, or serene. I would glance at the illustration or photo and read the words to enhance the experience. Later on, I kept it on my desk for a quick calming moment. Whenever I felt stressed, I would quickly look at the visualization and like a reflex action feel calmer and more in control.

If we have Alzheimer’s which is often accompanied by agitation, or if we are stressed caregivers, or if we simply want to decompress to prevent the internal damage that stress causes, meditation is a tried and true measure that has endured for centuries. With these visualizations, I hope that you can personalize the art of meditation, to find healing and positive perception.

Every week I will post an image along with an affirmation and detailed suggestion for shedding stress.