Divorce is widely regarded as being one of the most stressful events one can go through in their life. The process of divorce can be long and drawn out, and can cause anxiety, depression and tension for all - especially if children are involved. While many people may turn to drugs such as antidepressants to help combat the stress of divorce, there are many unwanted side-effects that can go along with a treatment such as this. Meditation is a safe, natural way to combat stress, and is considered to be highly effective when practiced regularly.

Meditation comes with many stigmas in the western world. While it has been a common practice in the East for thousands of years, it has just recently started to gain popularity in the West. Many people get caught up in the confusion of thinking that meditation is synonymous with religions such as Buddhism, which is not at all true. The art of meditation is in all ways secular and can be practiced by anyone, regardless of faith or lack thereof. By consistently practicing meditation, one will benefit from living a more relaxed, less stressful life. Positive health effects include lower blood pressure, sharper focus and stable, positive mood.
The process of meditation can be daunting for the beginner, but it need not be. The wonderful thing about meditation is that, in essence, it costs absolutely nothing and doesn't require any type of equipment. For those looking to get involved, starting with breath meditation is often recommended. Closing the eyes and focusing only on the inhale and exhale of the breath is essentially what breathing meditation is all about. The mind will invariably wander, in which case one must bring their focus back to the breath. Even if the mind wanders every ten seconds, bringing the focus back to the breath is what helps to cultivate the discipline of meditation.

If one becomes serious about meditation, there are usually classes and seminars that take place in cities and townships throughout the world. A quick search on the internet will often yield positive results. As divorce can be stressful on children as well as adults, it could prove beneficial to teach the merits of meditation to your children also. As meditation is side-effect free and a natural way to release tension and stress, there is nothing to lose in giving it a try. It may even change your life.  Manjit Sandhu