When you have a difficult problem facing you, meditation can help. You do not have to memorize fancy mantras to chant or join a monastery. There is no reason why you need to have any particular religious component to your meditation. The practice takes time to master, but it can help you clear your mind of clutter and focus on the decisions at hand.
When you first begin, you may find it hard to hold a scene in your mind without letting distractions in. This will change with practice and soon you will be able to cut out distractions and intrusive thoughts. You first need to get into a position where you are not too comfortable, but where you do not feel any discomfort. You need to make sure that you are not distracted with muscle tension and that you are not so comfortable that you fall asleep.
When you are in position, close your eyes and begin to monitor your breathing. You need to slow your breathing process down. Focusing on breath eliminates distractions and puts you into a state of relaxation due to decreased heart rate. Once you have slowed your breathing, it is time for mental exercises. Try focusing on how your hands feel or where you back is and how it feels. Then try a visualization exercise. When you can hold a picture or sound in your mind for 10-20 seconds, you can move on to the problem you are facing.
Meditation serves many purposes when it comes to problem solving. It can help you distance yourself from your emotions and it reboots your mind. The main reason to meditate over a problem is that most of the time we cannot solve problems because we cannot quiet the distractions in our lives. Meditation clears the way for you to really think about the appropriate course of action.
