Do you ever find yourself asking “what’s the point?”. Especially when pursuing difficult and challenging things. In times like this, it’s important to remind yourself of the benefits and what inspired you to start. Especially when you feel frustrated or unmotivated.
Dieting, working out, or learning a new skill can all cause those feelings. Leading you to doubt whether you should continue. Meditation falls into this category. Why? Because it’s also difficult, challenging, and it’s hard to understand or see the benefits at first.
Over the years I’ve fallen in and out of the practice for the same reasons. But I keep going back to meditation because of what it does for my wellbeing. I want to share the insights and experiences I’ve gained along my journey so far.
So, whether you’re here because you know nothing about meditation, or because you’re struggling with it, this blog post is for you.
Let’s explore the purpose, significance, and benefits of meditation together.
My History with Meditation
In my early 20s, I was struggling with a lot of emotional baggage. This was due to some traumatic events that took place since leaving high school. For years I suppressed feelings of deep sadness and self-loathing, until one day it all came crashing down.
Suffering from a mental breakdown, I received help from a therapist who introduced me to mindfulness and meditation. Using the practice, he taught me to confront my difficult emotions. I was able to bring them to the forefront of my awareness, empowering me to process and release them.
From that day forward, I was never the same. My mindset changed. I became more self-aware, calmer, and better at regulating my own mental state.
Mindfulness and meditation had a great impact on me and continues to do so. It’s why I’m writing this blog post right now. It’s why I created this website.
So, let’s move on to how it can do the same for you.
You Learn to Be Present
How often do you catch yourself lost in thought? Either ruminating about the past or anticipating and planning the future. It’s important to remember, reflect, and imagine. But if you spend too much time in your head, what happens?
You miss what’s going on in the here and now.
I used to be terrible for overthinking everything. Even worse for always planning and preparing for the future. Whilst I still naturally can fall back into that trap, meditation helps to keep me grounded in presence. How?
When meditating, you use a focus point to anchor you in the present moment. That could be your breath, sounds, a mantra, or your body. When your mind wanders, you bring it back to that anchor. It’s like a workout for your brain.
As your muscle of attention strengthens, you become better at being present. Not just during meditation but throughout your daily life.
This leads on to other benefits too.
“A mind in the present moment is meditation.”
— Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Meditation Increases Your Self-Awareness
Our minds can be chaotic, running wild with thoughts. Our bodies can feel all kinds of sensations and emotions. But how often do you pay attention to either? Meditation helps you to be more aware of both.
By learning to observe your mind, you begin to recognise how thoughts come and go. Like clouds in the sky. Some may be uplifting and pleasant. Others can be negative and self-destructive. Watch out for those ones.
The more you’re able to witness your thoughts, the less grip they have on you. Instead, you can choose to watch them floating by.
In a similar way, meditation brings attention to what’s arising within your body. Our bodies are always communicating with us. Emotions deserve to be felt and experienced. Trapped ones need to be released. Aches, pains, and tension require attentive care.
Meditating helps you to be more attuned with your body, rather than disconnected. Which is sadly how many of us live these days.
Let’s explore emotions in more detail.
You’re Able to Regulate Your Own Emotions
Powerful emotions can cause you to act unconsciously. Think of a time you lashed out when angry, only to regret it later. Or perhaps you recall acting irrational due to anxiety. All feelings and emotions have a purpose but if you let them overtake you, then you’re no longer in control.
Both the increased awareness of your mind and body developed in meditation, extends far beyond the sessions. It carries through to your daily life and interactions with others.
As I mentioned earlier, awareness is something you can strengthen with meditation. As this happens, you’ll begin to recognise your thoughts, feelings, and emotions more often. Empowering you to respond to your inner experiences with insight, wisdom, and appropriate action.
You learn to regulate your own mind and body better. And who doesn’t want to be more in control, cool under pressure, or able to overcome anxiety?
This was a game changer for me.
As someone who used to suffer from acute anxiety, meditation empowered me to take back the reins of my mind. Rather than letting habitual thinking distortions overcome me.
If I can do it, so can you.
“Meditation means to become absolutely aware. It is the only way to be completely free.”
— Sadhguru
You Can Find Inner Peace
Not only can our minds be turbulent like the ocean, but so can life. The currents can pull us under. The waves can sweep us off our feet or crash down, causing chaos and destruction. In such a frantic world it can be challenging to feel calm and go with the flow.
Meditation helps to bring you inner peace and tranquillity.
How? Because it enables you to connect with your inner stillness. The consciousness that exists within us all. Have you ever felt it before? Can you recall a time when you felt complete peace?
It could have been a cherished moment with a loved one or being in awe of the beauty of nature. A time when no thought was plaguing you. Meditation gives you access to this state of being. It can be hard to find at first, but it’s there.
Whilst it’s not always attainable, I’ve had plenty of blissful moments. Where a sense of calm and stillness enveloped me like a radiant light. This may sound bizarre to some, but why not try it for yourself?
This sense of calmness allows you to ride the waves of life, rather than them sweeping you away. So, not matter what is going on around you, you’re better able to go with the flow.
Your Productivity and Focus Increases
Remember that anchor I talked about earlier? Not only does it help you to be more present, but it also develops your focus. When your mind wanders -as it will do- you bring it back to your anchor of choosing. This back-and-forth exchange improves your concentration.
Like everything else I’ve already mentioned, the benefits extend to other aspects of your life.
Whether you’re studying, working, writing, or creating something. Overtime it’s possible to increase your focus and productivity. How is this even possible? There have been studies many showing that meditation creates changes in the brain.
Not only in areas relating to focus and concentration. But also, for compassion, memory, learning, decision making, and emotional response. As our brains are neuroplastic, they can rewire and form new connections at any age.
It’s never too late to start anything.
As someone with a relentless wandering mind, I can attest to how mediation has improved my focus. Without it, my focus, attention, and productivity would be much worse off.
“Meditation is a time to focus, train the mind, and bring it to stillness.
— Darren Main
Your Overall Wellbeing will Improve
It goes without saying, but all the above improves your overall wellbeing. As you develop your self-awareness and emotional regulation, you can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. For some, this may even improve sleep.
The positive changes in your body lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation. Whilst improving immune system function and calming down your nervous system. Plus, the physical changes in your brain enhance your cognitive function.
There is also meta meditation, which teaches you how to cultivate compassion for yourself and others. Bringing you a greater sense of connectedness, understanding, and acceptance. Additionally, this can allow you to beat your harsh self-critic.
Why Not Try Meditation?
There are plenty of benefits of meditating. Although, if you never try it, how will you know if it will help you? Meditation is free and easily accessible. All you need is, well, yourself!
Need help getting started? There are plenty of apps and recordings online. You can meditate guided or unguided, there are pros and cons to both. Yes, it can be hard to do at first, but like anything, it takes time to see the results.
If you’ve been trying for a while, I urge you to keep going. I also have a couple of blog posts that may help resolve your issues:
Frustrated When Meditating? Try These Solutions
5 Reasons You Find it Hard to Be Present
Meditation has been a journey of self-discovery for me. One that has had a profound impact on my wellbeing, mindset, and outlook. You can also unlock the power of this practice. So, what are you waiting for?
Take a deep breath. And Begin taking positive action to shape and transform your own life.
Did this blog post help to clear up your questions about meditation? Feel free to let me know in the comments.
Take care of yourselves,
Chris from Mindful Way to Be
