Meditation can seem like a New Agey concept, or a possibly daunting task to learn, but once you incorporate this practice into your lifestyle, you will reap the many benefits meditation can offer! Successful meditation may actually not be as far out of reach as it may seem, and it can be a useful tool while going through times of stress and change.
There are many forms of meditation, so if one doesn’t feel quite right, try another that may work better for you personally. Try not to get discouraged! There are training videos on YouTube or a Google search should guide you to some local meditation training sessions.
There is a multitude of scientific research-based evidence revealing the following (and more!) are known benefits to regular meditation:
1. Boosts Health:
Both your physical and emotional health will benefit from meditation. Studies show that your immune system functions increase and have found long-term decreases in depression. Meditation can also help with physical symptoms of epilepsy, PMS, decrease blood pressure, and alleviate other ailments.
2. Reduces Stress:
This is the most common reasons which people will give meditation a try. Mindfulness meditation reduces the inflammation caused by increased cortisol levels, resulting in lower levels of stress.
3. Increases Self-Control:
Because meditation requires mental discipline, a result of that work is that you will gain more of an ability to slow down, introspect, and regulate your emotional response to a stressor. If you struggle with addictive behaviors, meditation can also be beneficial to create awareness to triggers and avoid the resulting addictive behaviors.
4. Helps Control Anxiety:
When stress is reduced, anxiety is reduced. Studies have shown meditation reduces symptoms of phobias, social anxiety, panic attacks, and more.
5. Increases Productivity/Lengthens Attention Span:
While going through a stressful personal situation, work and home life can be a source of stress if you are finding it difficult to focus. Again, with the mental discipline and skills acquired through meditation, you will find your focus, multitasking abilities, and memory all improved.
6. Can Generate Kindness:
There are methods of meditation that help to develop kind feelings and thoughts, first toward yourself, then moving that kindness externally: to family and friends, then to acquaintances, and eventually even to enemies. Creating compassion while going through a difficult change can make a world of difference to you and the people around you.
7. Improves Sleep:
Insomnia, restlessness, rapid thoughts—no one is immune to difficulty sleeping. Meditation calms the mind, relaxes the body, and will help you fall asleep sooner and stay asleep longer.