Oh, dear readers, if you could see the grin on my face right now. Why might you ask? Today's topic is something near and dear to my heart. By now you're probably wondering what has me so giddy – it's the amazing health benefits of meditation! Get comfy, grab a cup of tea (or coffee, if that's your thing), and let's unpack this interesting, transformative, and a bit quirky subject.
I'm Laurel, by the way, an ordinary gal residing in the lovely rain-kissed city known as Portland. Before we delve into the health benefits, let's think about meditation for a moment. Many of us have this vision of an orange-robed monk perched on a serene mountaintop, chanting in some sort of enlightened euphoria. And while that's definitely one way to meditate, it couldn't be further from what most of us experience on a day-to-day basis! For many of us (myself included!), meditation might look a little more like sitting in a quiet room, trying to clear our minds while we stealthily peek at the timer to see if our five minutes are up yet. But hey, meditation isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, and that's the beauty of it! Now, let's take a humorous yet insightful journey into the not-so-obvious health benefits of meditation.
Contrary to common belief, meditation is more than just relaxation. It's a mental exercise that trains the mind to focus and redirect thoughts. But I hear you ask, Laurel, how does this mental workout translate into health benefits? Well, let me tell you! Regular meditation can help reduce stress, control anxiety, promote emotional health, enhance self-awareness, lengthen attention span, can probably even help you fight cravings... and those are just the basics! It's like a multipurpose tool that's always in your pocket, waiting to make your life better in the most surprising ways. And here's a little secret: You don't need a fancy meditation cushion or aromatic incense burning to reap the benefits. All you need is you!
Stress and anxiety...those pesky monsters that we all deal with in varying degrees. There are countless resources, therapies, and medications to help manage stress, but have you ever thought about the powerful weapon you possess to combat stress and anxiety naturally? Yes, it's meditation. Mindfulness and meditation have been shown to decrease the density of brain tissue associated with anxiety and worrying. If starting your day with a brief meditation session sounds like a better way to keep stress and anxiety at bay, who am I to argue?
Remember, it's not about eliminating stress (how I wish!) or never feeling anxious. It's about managing these feelings in a healthier way. And I'm not alone in this belief. Many high-achievers from athletes to CEOs have incorporated meditation into their lives, not because it's trendy, but because it works! The number of them who swear by this practice is growing every day. Unsurprisingly, another benefit of meditation, a direct result of reduced stress, is improved sleep. Oh, how I love the blissful experience of a good night's sleep!
I don't know about you, but my emotional roller-coaster has a knack for taking unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes it feels more like an intense game of Space Mountain than a serene carousel ride. While there’s nothing wrong with a little emotional adventure, it can be quite exhausting. However, meditation offers a possible solution. Meditating regularly can help us become less reactive to emotional swings and develop a more balanced, kind perspective towards ourselves and our experiences.
Grasping at emotions is like trying to hold water in your hands—it just slips through your fingers. But when we perform meditation and mindfulness exercises, we increase our self-awareness and understand our emotions better. They become less like tornadoes that throw us off our feet and more like waves that we learn to surf. Think about that! You are not just a cork bobbing helplessly in the ocean of emotions, but a professional surfer who can ride even the biggest wave. Legit, right?
We are living in an era of distractions, aren't we? Like, isn’t it a little crazy that we need smartphone apps to help us focus? Well, darling readers, meditation might just be the balm for our distraction-riddled minds. Regular practice has been found to increase the strength and endurance of our attention, kind of like when you work out at the gym, but for your mind! Before you know it, you're handling tasks like a pro, and the constant E-mail and social media notifications aren't as bothersome as they used to be.
Speaking of notifications, let's talk about cravings for a moment. Whether it's that tantalizing piece of chocolate cake, another binge-watch on Netflix, or reaching for that glass of wine after a long day, we all have those cravings that we wish we could get under control. View mindfulness and meditation as your secret tools to tackle your cravings head-on. You learn to examine your cravings without judgment and gain control over them, instead of them controlling you. Now, wouldn't that be empowering?
At this point, you're probably thinking Laurel, you must be pulling our legs. These health benefits can’t all come from sitting in silence, right? Truth is stranger than fiction, my friends, and in this case, it's also more beneficial!
So how do I invite you to use the magic of meditation? Remember, you don’t need to jump right into a 30-minute session. Start small with even just two minutes a day and gradually increase from there. Notice how you feel, observe the subtle changes, and most importantly, have fun and enjoy the journey towards a healthier, balanced you!
Written by Laurel Thompson
View all posts by: Laurel Thompson