Does Meditation Really Help?
Meditation has been around for thousands of years. It is a practice that has been proven to improve physical, mental and emotional well-being.
It is known to be a mind, body and soul modality of healing.
In today’s world where everything is instantaneous, and expectations are ever increasing, people are constantly under stress. This leads to physical and emotional problems. Our minds are fed with more information than ever before in the history of humanity.
Data is streamed to us day and night with little to no reprieve. Even ‘downtime’ is filled with tv shows, or films that keep our brains active with a constant need to recall information about characters or analyse situations and preempt what will happen.
Books also do this but in a much slower way. The brain can move at a slower pace and absorb the information slower.
Not to mention the constant subliminal messages about our failings, flaws and shortcomings. Being given a glimpse into the lives that others share with no context and then being led to believe that our lives are somehow inferior or we are not as worthy.
To counteract this, many people turn to meditation as a means of improving their self-connection.
“When there are thoughts, it is distraction: when there are no thoughts, it is meditation.”
Photo by: Marcus Aurelius
Here Are Five Benefits of Meditation That Can Help Improve Your Self-Healing Journey.
1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety.
One of the biggest benefits of meditation is the reduction in stress and anxiety.
When we meditate, we enter a state of relaxation. You focus on the present moment and let go of the worries and pressures of the past and future.
This lowers the stress hormones in our bodies. It creates calm in the mind and brings a sense of peace and relaxation.
It can also help relieve depression and other mental health issues.
2. Increases Self-Awareness.
Meditation helps to increase self-awareness by allowing you to observe your thoughts and emotions in a non-judgemental way.
When we meditate, we become more mindful of our thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.
This helps us to identify areas of our lives that may be causing stress or discomfort.
We can then make positive changes to improve our patterns of thinking and gain greater self-acceptance and self-compassion.
“Whether you’re keeping a journal or writing as a meditation, it’s the same thing. What’s important is you’re having a relationship with your mind.”
Photo by Liza Summer Photo by: Cottonbro Studio
3. Helps to Sleep Better.
Sleep is essential for our bodies to heal and regenerate. But so many struggle with sleep issues.
This has a negative impact on overall health, not just physical but mental too.
By calming the mind and body, meditation can help to improve the quality of sleep and also help you get to sleep quicker.
With the ability to relax and rest, the mind and body are given the time needed to heal from the day.
This, in turn, can improve overall health and well-being.
4. Boosts Your Immune System.
Studies have shown that when we meditate we activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to reduce inflammation and boost our immune system’s function.
Many of us live in survival mode or “fight -or-flight” where we are constantly hyper aware of situations around us and are experiencing huge amounts of stress.
This does not mean that we are in danger – just that our bodies are not designed to live in the world we have created.
We are overwhelmed. The parasympathetic nervous system is basically our bodys “rest and relax” activation.
We are allowing our mind and body to feel safe enough to let down our guard and simply be.
5. Emotional Balance.
Finally, meditation is an effective tool for self-healing. It can help you release tension and find greater balance and harmony. This lets you tap into your inner resources and connect with your body and mind.
Being able to slow down and listen to your body will enable you to connect to your intuition and inner knowing. When you know yourself and can tune into your emotions without judgment then you will be better able to make choices that are right for you, and express them to others.
The reality is that there are so many benefits to incorporating meditation into your self-healing journey. It is a simple yet powerful way to improve your physical, mental and emotional well-being.
“Meditation is not a one size fits all kind of practice.
Like with Yoga – different types suit different bodies.
In meditation – different methods suit different minds.”
If you are interested on learning more about meditation, and how to meditate after experiencing abuse or toxic relationships, there is more in my course “Strong Foundations”
Take Care and Stay Awesome.
Louise x