--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The physical act of meditating by closing…" description: "\"The physical act of meditating by closing one's eyes and slowing down the speed of internal thoughts - especially worrisome thinking - results in a phy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/tim-mccarthy-29744_closing_the-physical-act-of-meditating-by-closin_272827.jpg" --- # The physical act of meditating by closing one's eyes and… ![“The physical act of meditating by closing one's eyes and slowing down the speed of internal thoughts - especially worrisome thinking - results in a physiological response that is well documented in the scientific literature.” quote by Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/tim-mccarthy-29744_closing_the-physical-act-of-meditating-by-closin_272827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/tim-mccarthy-29744_closing_the-physical-act-of-meditating-by-closin_272827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/tim-mccarthy-29744_closing_the-physical-act-of-meditating-by-closin_272827.jpg) > “The physical act of meditating by closing one's eyes and slowing down the speed of internal thoughts - especially worrisome thinking - results in a physiological response that is well documented in the scientific literature.” [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Closing eyes and slowing thoughts during meditation triggers documented physiological changes that calm the mind. **In simple terms:** Meditation calms the mind and body. Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness regularly. Themes mindfulness calm health Mood relaxed focused Type instructional informative When to use this quote - daily meditation - stressful work - anxiety management Key Concepts neurophysiology stress reduction Questions to Reflect On - Can you notice physical changes when you meditate? - What thoughts hinder your calm? A Different Perspective Results vary; not all find immediate relief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Meditating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditating/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“This is the critical point of this book: if you are that zebra running for your life, or that lion sprinting for your meal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/this-is-the-critical-point-of-this-book-if-you-are-that-zebra-running/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Prayer and contemplation are both exercises in concentration. The normal deluge of conscious thought is restricted and the mind is brought to one conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/prayer-and-contemplation-are-both-exercises-in-concentration-the/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“Closing her eyes, she began to let herself dream. Not sleep dreaming, but dreaming of how her life might be. It was a thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kent-krueger/closing-her-eyes-she-began-to-let-herself-dream-not-sleep-dreaming/) [William Kent Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kent-krueger/) > [“Sleep is closing your eyes and trusting you will heal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-barone/sleep-is-closing-your-eyes-and-trusting-you-will-heal/) [Danielle Barone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-barone/) > [Being blinded by your secrets was so much easier then closing my eyes for the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-blinded-by-your-secrets-was-so-much-easier-then-closing-my-eyes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“ Sogni dóro, mia bella ragazza ,” he mumbled, closing his eyes. "Sweet dreams my beautiful girl.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/sogni-d-ro-mia-bella-ragazza-he-mumbled-closing-his-eyes-sweet-dreams/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [Not truly living in the present moment & later regretting is like closing your eyes when a peacock is dancing, only to want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/not-truly-living-in-the-present-moment-later-regretting-is-like/) RVM > [“Closing your eyes isn’t going to change anything. Nothing’s going to disappear just because you can’t see what’s going on…. Keep your eyes wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/closing-your-eyes-isn-t-going-to-change-anything-nothing-s-going-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If love can be avoided by simply closing our eyes, then I wouldnt blink at all for I dont want to let a second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-love-can-be-avoided-by-simply-closing-our-eyes-then-i-wouldnt/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Closing my eyes, I find green mountains and pure water within my own heart. Silently sitting alone and drinking tea, I feel these become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soshitsu-sen-xv/closing-my-eyes-i-find-green-mountains-and-pure-water-within-my-own/) Soshitsu Sen XV > [“Closing one’s eyes when praying doesn’t increase the odds of the prayer being answered. It merely decreases the odds of being distracted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/closing-one-s-eyes-when-praying-doesn-t-increase-the-odds-of-the/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“But he found the wall of prayer a barricade between himself and the wicked sly thoughts and, closing his eyes briefly, felt his father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-he-found-the-wall-of-prayer-a-barricade-between-himself-and-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I love the night! It's not uncommon for me to see the light of a new day before closing my eyes on the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-toney-horton/i-love-the-night-it-s-not-uncommon-for-me-to-see-the-light-of-a-new/) [Peggy Toney Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-toney-horton/) > [“Closing her eyes, she pretended that this was before six months ago, before her life had gone to shit. Before she’d lost the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-reus/closing-her-eyes-she-pretended-that-this-was-before-six-months-ago/) [Katie Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-reus/) > [“Keep your eyes open, especially if you’re wearing a blindfold while driving. Closing your eyes in that situation could be dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/keep-your-eyes-open-especially-if-you-re-wearing-a-blindfold-while/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Tim McCarthy > [Simple techniques for meditation can involve repetition of spiritually focused words, thoughts or ideas that help one feel at peace mentally and physically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/simple-techniques-for-meditation-can-involve-repetition-of/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [I recommended meditation to every person as a foundation for living healthier, being a more loving person, and leading a less stressful life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/i-recommended-meditation-to-every-person-as-a-foundation-for-living/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [There is a common misunderstanding that during meditation the mind should never engage in processing thoughts. It is okay in meditation for the mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/there-is-a-common-misunderstanding-that-during-meditation-the-mind/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [With the high stress of life many people find that their mind is constantly racing. They cannot stop from thinking even during time away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/with-the-high-stress-of-life-many-people-find-that-their-mind-is/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [In meditation, it is difficult, if not impossible, for most people to become devoid of all mental thoughts, so what we want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/in-meditation-it-is-difficult-if-not-impossible-for-most-people-to/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [The primary object of meditation is to not become overly attached to any particular thoughts that may come into to the mind. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/the-primary-object-of-meditation-is-to-not-become-overly-attached-to/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [Meditation is the process of quieting one's mind, and letting go of the worries and stress of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/meditation-is-the-process-of-quieting-one-s-mind-and-letting-go-of/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [The key aspect to meditating is that you close your eyes and engage in thoughts that are positive, uplifting, and create feelings of physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/the-key-aspect-to-meditating-is-that-you-close-your-eyes-and-engage/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [Doing meditation you may need to experiment to discover what kinds of thoughts are best for your own unique interests and situation. For you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/doing-meditation-you-may-need-to-experiment-to-discover-what-kinds-of/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [The end goal of meditation is to do whatever helps slow your mind down, in order to achieve a peaceful, positive state of mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/the-end-goal-of-meditation-is-to-do-whatever-helps-slow-your-mind/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [I suggest people simply start off meditation by practicing twice a day for 5 - 10 minutes, and explore what it's like to meditate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/i-suggest-people-simply-start-off-meditation-by-practicing-twice-a/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [No matter what meditation technique you use, just let the mind slow down and begin to explore its internal surroundings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/no-matter-what-meditation-technique-you-use-just-let-the-mind-slow/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [The ability to meditate successfully is a very unique skill that will help you better weather the storms of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/the-ability-to-meditate-successfully-is-a-very-unique-skill-that-will/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [There are many different techniques and forms of meditation. The common element among these techniques is that the person takes time out from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/there-are-many-different-techniques-and-forms-of-meditation-the/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) > [Meditation has become an ingrained part of my everyday life that helps me feel so much more centered, patient and compassionate. It even gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/meditation-has-become-an-ingrained-part-of-my-everyday-life-that/) [Tim McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) [Explore all 18 Tim McCarthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/) ## More Closing quotes > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [He thought about his people without sentimentalily, with a strick closing of his accounts with life, beginning to understand how much he really loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/he-thought-about-his-people-without-sentimentalily-with-a-strick/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [The idea that God resides in the unknown is what philosophers call the God of the gaps. And we have this thing called science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-idea-that-god-resides-in-the-unknown-is-what-philosophers-call/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [My walls are closing in, and I'm still wondering how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/my-walls-are-closing-in-and-i-m-still-wondering-how/) Patience > [As an actor, you know that every act has a closing curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/as-an-actor-you-know-that-every-act-has-a-closing-curtain/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [For the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel peaceful. Not happy. Not sad. Not anxious. Not horny. Just all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/for-the-first-time-in-longer-than-i-can-remember-i-feel-peaceful-not/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Don´t be unnecessarily burdened by the past. Go on closing the chapters that you have read; there is no need to go back again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/don-t-be-unnecessarily-burdened-by-the-past-go-on-closing-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [In my head, at least, the business of spinning stories has no closing time. Twists in my characters' lives, glimpses of their secrets, obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/in-my-head-at-least-the-business-of-spinning-stories-has-no-closing/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [I always ask two questions when we are closing in on a deal: What currency are we dealing in and how many people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-pardew/i-always-ask-two-questions-when-we-are-closing-in-on-a-deal-what/) [Alan Pardew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-pardew/) > [Ignorantly is how we all fall in love; for it is a kind of fall. Closing our eyes, we leap from that cliff in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/ignorantly-is-how-we-all-fall-in-love-for-it-is-a-kind-of-fall/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [During the 1970s and 1980s, the popular television soap opera As The World Turns portrayed sunrise during the opening credits and sunset during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/during-the-1970s-and-1980s-the-popular-television-soap-opera-as-the/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“There’s an air of things closing down. Teachers wear shorts and T-shirts to class. They show movies while they clean out their desks. Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/there-s-an-air-of-things-closing-down-teachers-wear-shorts-and-t/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) Browse all 543 Closing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The physical act of meditating by closing one's eyes and slowing down the speed of internal thoughts - especially worrisome thinking - results in a physiological response that is well documented in the scientific literature.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tim McCarthy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/the-physical-act-of-meditating-by-closing-one-s-eyes-and-slowing-down/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Closing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/the-physical-act-of-meditating-by-closing-one-s-eyes-and-slowing-down/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/tim-mccarthy-29744_closing_the-physical-act-of-meditating-by-closin_272827.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/tim-mccarthy-29744_closing_the-physical-act-of-meditating-by-closin_272827.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/tim-mccarthy-29744_closing_the-physical-act-of-meditating-by-closin_272827.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The physical act of meditating by closing one's eyes and slowing down the speed of internal thoughts…” — Tim McCarthy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tim McCarthy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mccarthy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The physical act of meditating by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/the-physical-act-of-meditating-by-closing-one-s-eyes-and-slowing-down/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mccarthy/the-physical-act-of-meditating-by-closing-one-s-eyes-and-slowing-down/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```