3 Benefits of Meditation
#1: Less reactive, more reflected
According to Psychology Today, meditation is a practice that can help clear away the mind’s chatter. In average we have between 50 000 and 70 000 thoughts a day (source: huffingtonpost.co.uk). Meditation acts on areas of the brain that modulate the autonomic nervous system, which governs such functions as digestion and blood pressure — functions heavily affected by chronic stress.
«With my sighted eye I see what’s before me, and with my unsighted eye I see what’s hidden» — Alice Walker
Since late last year I have been voluntarily having moments of silence in order to mentally detox without truly labelling it as meditation. And to this date I’m starting to notice baby steps of its positive effects.
Bellow what may happen if you meditate or stay with yourself in silence without doing anything than just being in the moment.
#1 : Less reactive — More reflected on everyday life matters
Before getting familiar to the silence, I definitely was most of the time on fight or flight modus. I tend to quickly react to things and events: either in extreme joy and excitement or in frustration, irritation, anger. The reflecting would occur a bit later on. I guess that’s the spontaneous part of my personality. It has its pros and cons :)
What I noticed is that every matter, every situation does not necessarily needs one to react or have a say on. Meditation helps tremendously in discovering that inner wellness can be found in just staying silent (from time to time) and be okay with that. Those moments of silence allow the brain to process the infos that’s happening outside and choose to react or no. With the fight or flight modus some of us tend to react way too often than necessary. And that’s a supplement (often unnecessary) effort that one is pulling from the brain/nervous system.
Just be quiet and think. It will make all the difference in the world. — Rogers
#2: Increased feeling of being rooted
Like a tree no matter the storms happening around you, you will start to notice that you stay grounded and well rooted. This is due to the fact that you have a higher level of awareness and consciousness gained through the reconnection with your inner self.
When you are disconnected with the inner part of your being, you stand like a fleeting element in the environment. Rain, wind, storms can easily shake you. But when you’re rooted and connected to your inner self you stand tall and secure. Meditation and prayers for believers allows that outer/inner connection. As St Exupéry wrote in “Le Petit Prince”:
“L’essentiel est invisible aux yeux = What’s essential is invisible to the eye”
#3: More authentically at peace with yourself — thus with others
«Peace is when we realise that victory and defeat are almost identical spots on one long spectrum. Peace is what allows us to take joy in the success of others and let them take joy in our own. Peace is what motivates a person to be good, to treat every other living thing well, because they understand that it is a way to treat themselves well» – Ryan Holiday
The more you practice the habit of meditation, the more you will see with wider eyes the reality you experience. You drain less on the overthinking. You recognise and internalise the fact that you are responsible of your words, your emotions and your behaviours. The rest of what’s happening around you happens in a more objective view: you take it as it comes => this is a constant practice that isn’t acquired just once. The peace that emanates from that understanding is contagious. You may hear some of your friends make remarks such as: “oh you seem so chill today”, “you are so relaxed and serene”, “how come you’re not worry about this or that”? Well hopefully you’ll remember to share with them your secret/s?
“Meditation is not to escape from society, but to come back to ourselves and see what is going on. Once there is seeing, there must be acting. With mindfulness we know what to do and what not to do to help”. — Thich Nhat Hanh
For those of you interested by testing out meditation (guaranteed no affiliate marketing — only a suggestion from one human to another )
21 days Deepak Chopra meditation challenge is a free guided meditation program you can try and see how it works for you.
Or you can simply schedule some time during the day when you cut all of the noise and stay in full silence just you and you.
Until next time, take good care. Drink your water and remember to be you, do you and say yours. This is YOUR life to live, not anyone else’s.
Where can Annick be virtually found outside of Medium?
