Prayer is a powerful way to gain focus, perspective, and commune with your higher power. The act of praying connects us with something deeper and more meaningful in life. It is rooted in spirituality, and has two dimensions. The first is a form of self-reflection and self-awareness. The second is the sense of external connection with something that transcends all creation. Prayer can benefit people a number of ways when done with the right awareness
1. It can provide optimism and hope
2. It can help cultivate a state of gratitude
3. It can help control impulsive actions.
4. It gives time to see things from a broader perspective.
5. It helps people find commonality and beauty in diversity.
6. It helps people focus and concentrate
7. It helps people forgive and move forward in life.
8. It gives people a sense of security.
9. It can give people a sense of comfort and being protected.
10. It can be used to cultivate rational thought.
11. It can give people creative ways of problem solving
12. It can give you a sense of true connection with your higher power.
There are mental and physical health benefits. The reduction of stress that prayer provides from creating a calm mental state and from providing a sense of being protected reduces long-term anxiety which directly leads to minor and major illnesses.
And finally, people have reported experiencing miracles as a result of prayer.
But prayer has to be done right in order to work. Some of the same requirements for meditation apply to prayer:
1. Turn off all electronics.
2. Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed.
3. Sit or lay comfortably.
4. Start with deep breathing to synchronize and relax the mind and body.
Super-Charge Your Prayers
If you want to be most effective during prayer time, then you must be calm and focused. Perhaps the easiest way to get into a calm and focused mental state is by using special music. Specifically designed music will be very helpful to enter the optimal state of mind for most effective praying. Music has a near immediate effect on mood, and certain musical and auditory techniques can produce very specific states of mind and relaxation. The most important mental quality to have when praying is relaxation.