Today I want to share with you a very effective (and unusual) strategy I’ve been using to come up with new ideas and to solve issues that arise in my business.
You see, all the answers you need are already inside of you, you just need to learn to listen to your subconscious mind.
And the best way to do this is through meditation, but don’t worry because I’m not talking about the kind of meditation you’re probably imagining right now, with candles and white clothes in a lotus position, etc.
No…
Meditations can be as simple as closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing, or something else, but focusing on a specific thing like a mantra, numbers, a dot on the wall, a light, etc. The important thing is to focus on something with the intention of clearing your mind of all thoughts. If you can achieve this, even for 2 or 3 minutes at a time you’re meditating.
So how can you use meditation to come up with ideas or solve problems? Here’s the method I’ve been using with great results.
Before I start to mediate I think about what I want to accomplish and convince myself that the answer will come during my meditation and once I start to meditate I don’t think about it anymore or try to force ideas to come out – I JUST LET GO.
The amazing thing is that during my meditation, when my mind is clear, 9 times out of 10 an idea will appear spontaneously in my head with an answer to my request. It’s a truly amazing thing!
The first time this happened to my I thought it was a coincidence, but when I tried it the next day and I got the same results I knew I was unto something and I’ve been doing this for more than a year now with great results.
If you don’t believe me try it for yourself and if you do it right you’ll be amazed with what happens.
Here are 5 things you should do to achieve a better meditative state.
- Posture: Sit in a position that is comfortable for you. If you wish, you can sit in a chair. The most important thing is to keep your back straight to prevent your mind from becoming sleepy or sluggish.
- Place: Choose a quiet, well ventilated place where nobody can disturb you and turn your cell phone off.
- Time: The best time to meditate is in the morning just after you wake up because your brain is in an Alpha state and it’s easier to go from an Alpha brain wave pattern to a Theta brain wave pattern (where real meditation happens).
- Breathing: Always keep in mind that while meditating you must breathe naturally as you do when you are sleeping, breathe through your nose and don’t try to control your breath.
- Your mind: At first, your mind will be very busy, and you might even feel that the meditation is making your mind busier; but in reality you are just becoming more aware of how busy your mind actually is.
There will be a great temptation to follow the different thoughts as they arise, but you should resist this and remain focused on the sensation of the breath or whatever you have chosen to focus on.
If you discover that your mind has wandered off and is following your thoughts, you should immediately return it to the point of focus. You should repeat this as many times as necessary until your mind is clear.
Meditation, like everything worthwhile in life needs practice, but the rewards of conquering this skill are enormous.
And as usual, some technological advancements have made meditation easier. There’s a program I’ve been using for years now called Holosync that has helped me tremendously with my meditation.
Please share what you think about this technique by leaving a comment below.
Thanks
Comments 14
Hi Alex,
Well you have certainly come up with something a little different from your usual posts. But, I like it and it is an idea that sounds good. I am going to give it a try.
I have an idea that I will find the same thing you have found. I have never tried meditation as a way of coming up with new ideas, but I have used it just as a way to relax for a few minutes when I get tired at the computer so I know that it does work.
Thanks for the idea.
Herschel Lawhorn
Author
Hi Herschel,
I would LOVE to hear how it goes.
Hi Alex,
This reminded me of when I learned meditation a Buddhist retreat in Sri Lanka. I was meditating hours every day. The results were sometimes more amazing than you describe.
I think actual meditation is more beneficial than brainwave entrainment devices such as holosync. Supposedly these audio programs can train your brain to make associations very quickly. But plain meditation – even if it takes longer – is more in our nature, isn’t it?
Author
Hi Jerry,
Yes it is, but Holosync just helps us beginners get into a deep meditation state faster
meditation indeed helps to clear my mind and stay focused. some say Steve Jobs made his most important decisions with the help of meditation. I myself meditate on a daily basis and it feels great.
Hi Alex,
Thank you for the interesting method of finding solutions and ideas. Will definitely give it a try. On average, how long are you meditations with productive results?
Thanks
Author
Hi Alexander,
I dedicate 40 minutes each morning to meditation, just after I wake up.
Hi Alex,
Nice post! Although I have meditated, and have even spent many days in silence with profound insights, I have not tried meditation to solve problems. However now that I read your post I remember that I have heard of this before. Thanks for the reminder – I’m going to try it.
Hi Alex
Great post and good reminder of the power of the mind.
If I could add a tip that some people might find helpful. A friend of mind has been practicing meditation for many years and is the most optimistic and calm person I know. She says that every time she meditates she smiles. Sounds a bit odd I know but she is convinced that the physiological and psychological signal sent to the brain induces a sense of well being and enhances the meditative process.
Thanks as always for an enjoyable and informative read.
Best wishes
Author
Thank you Patti,
Great tip.
When you smile you release endorphins (the feel good hormone)
Hello Alex!
This is my first time here I do believe? I may have stopped once before to read a post. Anyway, I have been on your list for sometime now so I thought I would say a few words to you.
I was just reading over some of your posts. You do nice work Alex, and this post was rather unusual compared to most that I read. Not that I don’t like or agree with some of your suggestions, but because this isn’t what most marketers are normally talking about. Meditation, or quiet time as I usually call it, are really quite necessary at times I believe.
I like clearing my mind of all thoughts and getting in touch with my inner self. Unfortunately most of us don’t have many opportunities to really have complete quiet.
Well Alex I have done enough talking, I have so much work to do!
I really need to start outsourcing more before I become my own best employee! Many people cannot wait to achieve freedom from their offline jobs only to become employed by themselves. There is a big difference between owning a company and working for the company.
David
Author
Hey David,
Clearing your mind and meditating is an integral part of being successful at anything you do so I think that we all should be talking about this more and applying it also.
And yes… the only way to REALLY grow your business is to outsource the mechanical stuff and only focus on what Peter Drucker calls the only 2 functions of business – “marketing and innovation”
Alex, thanks for giving people a simple method for meditation.
There are books and books on it, and certainly there are more in depth methods… but you have broken it down to the basics and your method is basically the same as what the “gurus” teach.
I have read many books on meditation and used to meditate a lot, but the past couple years I gave it up due to a lack of time (which really means I just decided not to make it a priority even though I feel like/THINK it IS a priority).
Eckhart Tolle says that even just becoming aware of your body and being aware of the “me” that is the thinker vs the real me that is the awareness of the thinker, is a worthwhile thing to do and it can take as little as 30 seconds and if we do that throughout the day it will help us.
Author
Thank you
And yes – just 30 seconds or a couple of minutes a day of “becoming aware” is enough to change your life