Easy Meditation Through Active (coloring) Meditation

As you well know, not everyone (very fewdone that? Or, have you ever done that?
perhaps) can sit still long enough to achieve aIn my book and in my workshops, I use coloring
meditative state. The longer you sit the moreas the primary active meditation technique. After
difficult it is to push passing thoughts out of yourall, it's easy, inexpensive, fun and allows you to
mind and maintain focus. Before you know it youopen up your creative side, something that most
are fretting over work, planning a dinner menu, oradults rarely do. Below are basic step-by-step
just giving up. Our action-oriented, multi-tasking,instructions on how to effectively meditate while
Western society simply doesn't mesh withcoloring. If you are ready, grab your supplies and
traditional Eastern meditation techniques. This isfind a quiet space to enjoy this peaceful pastime.
where active meditation comes to the rescue.Step One: Start the session with a smile. Don't
Active meditation, sometimes called movingskip this step just because it sounds a little silly.
meditation, is easier to learn, but just as powerfulHolding a light smile on your face will help put you
as the Eastern techniques you may be morein a receptive mood for the meditation. In fact,
familiar with. When practicing active meditationstudies have proven that smiling, even when you
you will chose a simple movement, like coloring,are not happy, can raise the level of endorphins
drawing, or even walking, to give you stronger(mood enhancing chemicals) in your brain. So, start
focus. The repetitive motions act as a constantsmiling!
reminder allowing you to easily shift your attentionStep Two: Flip through a coloring book and pick
back to the meditation, back to the moment,the first design that peaks your interest. There
before any fleeting thoughts take hold. Negativeare a lot of beautiful adult coloring books available
images, past regrets and future worries arein bookstores and online. Some authors, myself
simply pushed aside as you take the time toincluded, offer free coloring pages on their
enjoy the present. When is the last time you'vewebsites.