What Does Meditation Mean?
What Does Meditation Mean?
It is very hard for us to stop thinking. We think around 60,000 thoughts every day and most of these thoughts are automatic, negative, habitual thought patterns that we repeatedly think.
These thoughts then lead to our identity, beliefs, feelings, actions, words, habits, destiny, and unconsciously create a life that we might not have intended to create.
Meditation is one of the best practices to stop those negative thoughts and create the life that you want. My regular meditation practise has improved my life drastically.
I feel a sense of peace, serenity, and contentment on the inside no matter what is going on the outside. I highly recommend everyone to start meditating every day even if it is only for a few minutes.
Meditation is a practice where you turn your awareness from the outer world of noise and activity to your inner world, engage in contemplation or reflection, concentration, focus on your breathing, repetition of mantra, thoughts, feeling and perceptions, and reach a heightened level of spiritual awareness.
You learn to focus and observe your thoughts, feelings, and perceptions non-judgementally, slow them down, and eventually stop them, so you can alter how you perceive and respond to the world around you.
So, now that you know what meditation means, you may be wondering… Why you should consider starting a meditation practice and what are some other benefits of Meditating?
Let’s discuss that next
What Are Some Benefits Of Meditation?
Meditation has been practiced in many cultures all over the world for thousands of years.
It can be used as a psychotherapeutic technique as well as for a religious purpose. Many people also use it independently of any religious or spiritual practices and beliefs.
While the experts do not yet fully understand exactly how meditation works research has shown that meditation can have a range of positive effects on overall health.
Some of these benefits are a deep state of relaxation, tranquil mind, emotional, and psychological well-being and many others
Let’s discuss these and all the additional benefits of meditation in more details.
Benefits of Meditation On The Brain
Meditation slows the ageing of your brain and improves memory. Various studies done have also shown an increase in the physical size of certain areas in your brain from meditating regularly.
A Harvard study by Dr. Sarah Lazar in 2011 showed after just 8 weeks of meditation, a physical increase in the size of the Left Hippocampus which is responsible for learning, memory, and retaining information.
Posterior Cingulate Cortex also grew which controls the ability for your mind to wander and Temporo-parietal junction which is responsible for empathy and compassion.
The same study also found that there was also a noticeable decrease in the brain cell volume in the amygdala which is responsible for fear, anxiety, and stress which matched with the self-reports of levels of stress.
Meditation changes our subjective experience, perception of pain and feelings, and overall psychological well-being.
Benefits Of Meditation Before Bed
Meditation improves sleep especially if it is done right before going to bed. It is easier to fall asleep when you are in a calm, peaceful state and not focusing on the negative things that have happened throughout the day.
Sleep is very important for us so you’ll be able to function better if you sleep better and wake up with gratitude and excitement to start your day which will allow you to focus on and fulfill your purpose, grow, and serve others.
Benefits Of Meditation on Health
Reduces Stress
Meditation helps better manage stress and reduce the side effects of stress, especially with mindful meditation. It helps you slow down your thoughts or control your thoughts and quiet your mind and which leads to you feeling calm and peaceful.
It reduces automatic habitual negative and stressful thoughts which unconsciously create a life that you do not want.
Better Management Of Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety
Mindfulness meditation helps you to be in the present moment right now and not worry about the past or the future.
You are better able to manage the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Anxiety is fear of the future and depression is resentments from the past.
A recent study published in Jama Internal Medicine by Professor Willem Kuyken showed that Mindful meditation was just as effective as commonly prescribed drug anti-depressant drugs when it comes to treating depression and had a 31% less chance of a relapse.
Improves Immunity
Meditation improves your overall immunity. We are energetic beings and meditation raises your energy which makes less likely to catch germs and diseases which exist at a lower vibration.
Reduces Your Blood Pressure
Meditation reduces your blood pressure. You are less likely to suffer from high blood pressure and all the other health issues that result from this condition.
You instantly feel calm, peaceful, and less affected by the challenges that arise in your life.
Experience Of Bliss And Happiness
Meditation leads to a feeling and experience of internal bliss, contentment, and happiness that cannot be compared to anything else.
You feel internal joy, peace, and love as you connect and align with your creator through meditation and a knowing that you can access the divine intelligence, strength, love, compassion, and abundance which is your true nature.
When you are fully present you can enjoy moments of your life’s journey rather than worrying about the past or future.
Improves Your Self-Esteem
Meditation improves your self-esteem and confidence. When you connect and align with your creator, you get to know your higher self and realize who you are which is a very powerful soul.
You are an individualized expression of your creator. When you come to know this truth and realization you will feel more powerful. This will lead to you having an increased self-esteem and self-confidence and be less affected by bullies.
Improves Focus And Productivity
Meditation improves your focus and attention. You will be able to stay in the present moment, control, slow your thoughts down, focus, and not get distracted.
Your productivity, concentration will increase, and you will be able to get into a flow state more often.
Makes You More Grateful
Meditation makes you more grateful. You realize who you are, where you have come from, and how much you are loved unconditionally by your creator.
You will be able to notice and be in “aah” of all the things in life, including nature, that you have been blessed with.
Your Relationships will also improve as you will value and become more grateful for all the people in your life.
Increased Self-Awareness
You will be able to live like your higher self and who you are by nature. You will radiate love, peace, compassion, joy, abundance, and kindness.
Meditation will help you connect and align to your creator and receive guidance about your purpose and path.
In conclusion, Meditation is a practice where you turn your awareness from the outer world of noise and activity to your inner world, engage in contemplation or reflection, concentration, focus on your breathing, repetition of mantra, thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and reach a heightened level of spiritual awareness.
You learn to focus and observe your thoughts, feelings, and perceptions non-judgementally, slow them down and eventually stop them, so you can alter how you perceive and respond to the world around you.
Meditation is a wonderful practice for every-one to start. It has so many health and other benefits. It is worth starting to add to your schedule every single day. Even if it is only for a few minutes.
The sooner you start the sooner you will experience feeling a sense of peace, serenity, and contentment on the inside no matter what is going on the outside like me.
I wanted to mention a great resource to help you in case you were wondering how exactly to start your meditation practice. I recommend you read a book by Jack Kornfield called Meditation for Beginners
I wish you the best of luck with your meditation practice! You may not feel competent in the beginning however remember it is a journey and you will get better as you repeatedly practice meditation. It is definitely worth a try!