One of my dear friends, who we call the “hippie,” turned me onto meditation a few months ago. Ever since, I’ve been totally hooked! Once I got over the weird stereotypes of meditators, I let the new practice change my life for the better. It has improved my mental and physical health, and overall happiness. Here are a few of the magic wonders meditation can create for you.
Prior to mediation, I remember I felt like I could never turn my brain off. My thoughts were continuously running wild; I never got a break. Meditation taught me to control my thoughts and shut off the negative ones. It trained my brain to focus on one thing at a time.
I used to constantly need music playing or TV in the background. I was literally afraid of silence. Meditation trained me to use silence as an anxiety-reducer, instead of anxiety-ammunition. Quiet stillness is the only true way to clear a cluttered mind.
In addition, meditation allowed me the break from the real world I so desperately needed each day. The buzzing of my Facebook notifications and my complaining roommates vanished. People need extravagant vacations once a year, because they let their anxiety and stress build up over a long period of time. The easier way, however, would be taking ten minutes every morning to escape through meditation.
Most people neglect the assessment of their mental and physical health, until something severe happens. Meditation gives you the daily mind and body check-up that your brain and body deserve.
One of my biggest take aways was meditation’s ability to reduce anxiety. Mine was not servere enough for a prescrition, but still held me back each day. Meditation taught me how to deal with it in a healthy way, getting to the root of the problem: my need for focus and relaxation. This goes along with huge improvements in mental health, which then improves physical health.
Meditation changed my life and I will never go back to my stress-ridden, hectic mind. Hopefully you give it a try and fall in love, just like I did.
Here are some guided meditation sources to get started!
Apps: Headspace, Calm, Centered, Insight Timer, Take a Break, Omvana, Smiling Mind
Youtube channels: Kereiki, The Honest Guys