We’ve become so entangled in our everyday lives that we don’t even realise the importance to pause, breathe and observe and live in the present. Meditation is a very simple practice which is easily accessible to all, it can help reduce stress, increase calmness and clarity and promote happiness. Learning how to meditate is straightforward, and the benefits can be derived quickly. Take a deep breath, and get ready to relax as we talk about this simple but impactful practice.
What is meditation?
Meditation isn’t about becoming a new person, or even a better person. It’s about training yourself to be aware and getting a healthy sense of perspective. You don’t try to turn off your thoughts or feelings, in fact you let your thoughts and feelings flow without judgement. And eventually, you may start to better understand them as well.
What is mindfulness?
Meditation is often associated with mindfulness. In simple terms mindfulness is the ability to be present, in the here and now. It’s okay if your mind wanders, as soon as you notice, the key is to bring yourself back to the present and engage fully in whatever you’re doing in the moment.
Meditation is a skill
Learning to master how to meditate is like learning any other skill. In simple context, imagine a muscle you’ve never really worked on before. It takes consistent practice to get comfortable and to master meditation. It’s always best if you begin meditation with the help of an instructor or an app.
Meditation is a practice
There’s no such thing as perfection in meditation. There will be times when your focus will wander or you’ll forget to follow your breath and that’s okay. It’s part of the meditation experience. What’s most important is to meditate consistently. It’s one of those things where the journey is more important than the destination.
The mind can be a complex place
It takes time to get comfortable with your mind. There might be setbacks along the way but that’s part of meditating. Keep practicing. The first step is showing up.
Benefits of meditation
Meditation isn’t an obvious but surely an effective way of looking after ourselves. Some meditate to manage stress, reduce anxiety, and to bring peace when we feel inner chaos. Below are some of the many benefits of meditation which can have a positive impact on mental, physical, and emotional health.
- Few of the obvious and instant positive side effects of meditation include increased awareness, clarity, compassion, and a sense of calm.
- Improved focus is another benefit commonly associated with meditation.
- It helps in reducing stress.
- Brings clarity.
- Increases focus and productivity.
- Better sleep and immunity.
- It builds new positive neurological connections.
- Better decision making ability.
- Emotion regulation.
- Planning and problem solving.
Remember it’s okay if you don’t see a difference at once. It takes time, but once you experience meditation at its truest form, you’ll experience a different world altogether.
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