[PilotMan]

Meditation has been great for me. I find the Insight Timer App is good for directed, but mostly I prefer the silence or sounds of nature for meditation. I am a more balanced person when it's a part of my routine. The hardest thing about it is shutting off your mind and focusing on the present. Letting go of the things that weigh you down and demanding your mind bend to your will takes practice. It's like practicing any kind of skill. It's not praying or thinking, it's quite the opposite. It's recognizing that you're alive in this minute and to take in the world around you. It's the lack of conscious thought to simply be and appreciate all that entails. I also use it to prepare for big events, to visualize goals, and calm myself.