Meditation Technique: 8 Easy Ways to Use Inspirational Quotes for Going Within
Did you ever think about why we like to read quotes? Pausing for a moment to consider the meaning of a collection of words which give form to a thought can change our state of mind from one of pessimism or dismay to one of delight or peace or even awe.
For that moment, we connect with another soul who expressed an insight which we can see too. We demonstrate to ourselves that the meanings we give words can stir something in us, and sometimes, shift our thinking enough to change our whole day.
So, how can we use inspirational quotes to help ourselves feel more peaceful?
Here are 8 easy ways:
1. Read quote after quote until you feel reset. A simple and direct approach, when you’re feeling stressed, reading quotes can be a very effective way to bring your mind back to a calm place. Just keep reading until you experience a shift and you notice that you’re feeling better.
2. Let them inspire a journal entry. Choose a quote you like and write it at the top of your page. Then start writing continuously whatever comes to mind, continuing for as long as you wish. You may find you’re focusing on a single word from the quote. Or maybe the quote will get you in touch with whatever it is that makes you say “wow” when you read it.
3. Meditate with a quote. You might try, for example, meditating on the first principle of Gerald Jampolsky’s attitudinal healing, “Love is the essence of our being.” First, get yourself calm and relaxed by taking three slow, deep breaths and then repeat your chosen quote to yourself in your relaxed state.
4. Choose some inspirational quotes as affirmations. Look for some concise, positive quotes and memorize them as mantra-like boosters for whenever you’re not feeling peaceful. Try “I could see peace instead of this.” — A Course in Miracles
5. Write your favorite quotes over and over to get yourself focused on a positive thought. Instead of writing “I will not throw snowballs at the school.” 100 times on the blackboard, try Emile Coue’s simple and ever popular - “Every day in every way, I am better and better (and better!) Write it wherever you like. Great use for a big, yellow, legal pad.
6. Post inspirational quotes all around the house - by your computer, on your bathroom mirror, above the bathroom scale, in your car, on your refrigerator, by the door going out, in your pocket, as an email to yourself, and any other places you’ll see them throughout the day to give yourself many opportunities to shift your thinking whenever you need to.
7. Record yourself reading your chosen quotes to listen to as you guide yourself into meditation. This one’s very powerful and can be listened to over and over again to calm and inspire yourself.
8. Read inspirational quotes just before you go to sleep. In the tradition of the bedtime story, this can be especially nice to do out loud. You can see, say, and hear the words at the same time just before you go off to dreamland.
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If you’d like to try some of these ideas right now, but can’t think of an inspirational quote, you might find one you like among the inspirational quotes here on Meditation-Mind.
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What are your favorite ways to use inspirational quotes?
You can share them in the comments section.