SOME PEOPLE THINK meditation is weird or something that one might do when one is bored, and that it is difficult to practice.
In fact, we all already practice some form of meditation – allowing our thoughts to wander, almost sub-consciously sifting through the chatter in our minds while actually focussing on an activity – yoga, swimming, even just walking. Think of it as ‘moving meditation’. Ask yourself how you feel mentally after that session and I suspect many will say calmer, more clear-minded, mentally refreshed, etc. That is the fundamental aim of meditation and its benefits can profoundly affect your mental health.
Reduce Stress Levels: The momentum of thoughts can make us feel uncomfortable, sad or powerless about a situation, causing stress and anxiety.
If we meditate regularly (i.e. a few minutes each day) we can create a new habit which will enable us to experience moments of ‘non-thought’ and allow a feeling peace and relief to enter our minds.
Helps to achieve Clarity: How often have we felt disconnected, not knowing what decision to make, or making them out of need or desperation – should I take that job or not? Should I call that person or not?
If we can connect to our inner self, we can achieve clarity of mind which will help us to make more positive decisions and, in turn, the desired outcomes.
How often have you heard the phrases: “follow your bliss” or “do what feels good”. The clarity meditation can give us allows us to calmly come to decisions and visualise our path.
Improves Physical Health: Case studies have revealed that a daily meditation practice has helped patients recover from diseases and helped them reduce pain levels.
By allowing our mind to clear from thought and by releasing all kinds of physical, mental and emotional resistance, we are allowing our cells to do what they do best: recover and heal themselves.
Opens up the Creative Flow: Artists can relate to this, as it is in their more quiet moments of reflection that their inspirations come flooding in. The influx of ideas or moments of inspiration can be encouraged by engaging in tasks and living in the moment, allowing creative thoughts to flow.
John Galliano, the renowned genius of fashion, was asked what the creative process is for him. He said; “creating fashion is my meditation – my ideas flow and time disappears.”
One of the most beneficial practices for our mental, physical and emotional health is meditation.
Help reduce anxiety and depression: For people suffering from chronic anxiety and depression, quieting the mind can be challenging. What is more, people can be scared going inside their mind as they do not feel they have control over their thoughts and will end up in a ‘bad place’.
In fact, trying to stop thoughts and the ‘chatter’ of the mind through relaxation or meditation allows the negative thoughts to dissipate. Distraction works well to help people to disengage; just absorbing yourself in a Box Set, going for that walk, taking time to chat to an old friend, allows relief from spiralling emotions.
With meditation we can create a new habit which will allow us to recognise when uncomfortable thoughts are starting to creep in. Once we start to realise that we can control our mind and the way it works we will feel empowered and certain of our capacity to find peace of mind no matter what.
Handle Stressful Situations: We are constantly bombarded with signals, information and ideas and, for some people, there is no relief – day or night. When we reach a saturation point, we can no longer cope logically or calmly when a stressful situation comes our way.
Sleep is a great way to re-boot the mind but for some people this is not enough, since as we dream, we might keep in the vibration of our problems and have stressful dreams or even nightmares. By releasing our conscious thoughts through meditation, we are allowing our mind to release itself.
The Snowball Effect: It is hard to recognise when negative thoughts overtake us; when we reach saturation point, or have extra-ordinary stress factors, but it can all build, gaining force and volume, becoming more of a threat as it grows.
Meditating, especially at the beginning of the day, can halt that slow build of negative thoughts, prevent the ‘snowballing’ and allow us to feel more secure and connected, and shift into more positive thinking.
The art of meditation is a very personal journey, the method, meaning and results are different for each one of us. We have all been wired differently and our minds are the best reflection of this. The way we see the world and how we process information is unique to each one of us. The most important thing is to start meditating and then watch how your life starts to change for the better as you learn to mind your mindset.
Adapted from an article by Jessica Barkley, for Yoga Magazine Aug 2019
