I know the title is corny, but I just had to! But really though, here’s why you should meditate.
Meditation is the continuous flow of attention (concentrating) on a specific subject, part of the body or other intended source. Meditation is the 7th limb of yoga, known as dhyana in sanskrit. Its purpose is to train and calm the mind which is otherwise in a constant state of overactivity from responding to external information received by the physical senses. Dhyana is the penultimate step to Samadhi, a transcendental state of bliss.
Our minds are not naturally trained for meditation. So, naturally this will be difficult and can even feel scary if you’re new to this. The common tendency in life is to do multiple things at a time. Meditation completely contradicts this and forces us to focus our attention entirely on a single point of focus.
Meditation is both a skill and mental exercise that takes practise. The more you do it, the easier it becomes and the more you will benefit from it.
Meditation does not mean that we have no thoughts. In fact, it is normal to become distracted or lose focus while meditating. Meditation lies in the ability to constantly bring the attention back to the intended source and this requires constant practise, known as Abhyasa in sanskrit.
For example, if you become distracted by an external sound or preoccupied with a given thought. Acknowledge this, and gently allow the distraction to pass as you return your attention to the intended source e.g. the 3rd eye, the breath.
Brief, daily meditation decreases negative mood and reduces anxiety scores. Practising meditation helps us to make better sense of what’s happening within us and most importantly to understand why.
We familiarise ourselves with anxiety inducing thoughts and storylines. We learn to see them, sit with them, and we learn to let them go. In doing so, we learn that the thoughts do not define us.
When overstimulated, anxiety will outweigh the logical parts of the brain and cause you to panic.
Contrary to popular belief, meditation is not about achieving a state of complete thoughtlessness.
Instead, it’s about learning to observe our thoughts without judgment and allowing them to pass, much like clouds drifting across the sky.
This process helps us develop equanimity – a sense of inner calm and balance – amidst life’s chaos and noise.
It helps us to better navigate challenges by taking a moment to pause, reflect and avoid feeling consumed by life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Meditation literally rewires the brain. Long term meditation can induce long lasting changes in brain activity, known as neuroplasticity.
Key changes include an increase in cortical thickness which has been linked to measures of human intellectual ability.
The brain’s ‘fight or flight’ centre, the amygdala has also appeared to shrink. This region is associated with fear and emotion and is involved in the initiation of the body’s response to stress.
Activation of the prefrontal cortex has also been observed related to improved cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, focus, creativity, emotional regulation and decision-making.
Start with short sessions, this can even be just a few minutes to start. Focusing on your breath or focal point such as the 3rd eye, close your eyes and learn to notice your thoughts without engaging with them. You can follow guided meditations or use visualization of imagery that resonates with you.
Regular meditation can improve your overall wellbeing, mood, sleep and functioning. Show yourself grace when you find it challenging, I sometimes find it hard to stay consistent too. But the journey to a more balanced and peaceful mind is worth the effort.
2024