Why should I meditate?
When people search for “meditation” or “the benefits of meditation,” they are seeking positive outcomes from this practice. Quieting the mind can be challenging, and individuals want to ensure there are benefits because maintaining this practice can be hard. The initial stages can be tough, long, and even boring. Who can sit in silence for 5 minutes, let alone 30 minutes? Your mind races, distractions arise, thoughts turn to your to-do list, and you may become uncomfortable, bored, or restless. Additionally, you might listen to a guided meditation and not resonate with the voice or the type of meditation. It can also feel like you need to be good at meditating, which adds pressure. I hear it all the time from my friends, family, clients, and students, “I am not really good at meditating, I fail every single time.” Which begs the question, who said you needed to succeed at meditation to be good at it? I promise you, there is no success in meditation, it's more about how deeply connected you are to your authentic self. You are getting to know yourself deeply every single day.
I remember my first experiences with meditation during my Reiki mastership in 2016. Over three days, in total, I had to meditate five times for 20-26 minutes long. They were briefly guided by my teacher, and then the Reiki energy guided me. In the first minute, I saw something spiritual, but then I found myself sitting in silence, feeling bored for the rest of the meditations and not feeling anything profound. I recall sharing this with my teacher, and she kindly laughed and said, “Oh, Alex, if you want to deepen your spirituality, you must establish a dedicated meditation practice.” I agreed, still unsure, because I couldn’t see the benefit at the time. I was a skeptic.
It would take me another 6 months after my Reiki mastership to truly understand what she meant.
I wish I could say there’s an easy way to start meditating, but everyone must go through the challenging phase to reach the rewarding aspects of meditation. Every individual has their personal reasons for having a meditation practice, and everyone’s experiences are unique. It’s easy to compare yourself to what you’ve read or heard from others, but a consistent meditation practice will be unique and profound to you. You just need to understand why you are doing it so you can endure the difficulty created by your ego, which makes meditation challenging.
There are numerous reasons why people meditate:
Stress Reduction: Meditation can help lower stress levels by promoting relaxation and reducing the body’s stress response.
Improved Mental Health: It may alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, promoting emotional well-being.
Better Focus and Concentration: Regular meditation can enhance your ability to concentrate and maintain focus on tasks.
Enhanced Self-Awareness: Meditation often leads to greater self-awareness, helping you better understand your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Increased Mindfulness: It cultivates mindfulness, allowing you to live in the present moment and reduce rumination about the past or worries about the future.
Better Sleep: Many people find that meditation helps them relax and fall asleep more easily, improving sleep quality.
Pain Management: Meditation can be effective in reducing pain and improving pain tolerance.
Lower Blood Pressure: It may help lower blood pressure and contribute to overall cardiovascular health.
Emotional Regulation: Meditation can assist in regulating emotions, making it easier to respond to situations calmly and rationally.
Improved Relationships: Enhanced self-awareness and emotional regulation can lead to better interpersonal relationships.
Increased Creativity: Some individuals experience a boost in creative thinking and problem-solving abilities through meditation.
Greater Resilience: Regular practice can build mental resilience, helping you cope better with life’s challenges.
Enhanced Cognitive Function: It may lead to improved memory, cognitive flexibility, and decision-making skills.
Spiritual Growth: For some, meditation serves as a spiritual practice, promoting a deeper connection with one’s inner self or spiritual beliefs.
Reduced Symptoms in Various Health Conditions: Meditation has been associated with symptom reduction in conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia, and more.
For me, as someone dealing with complex PTSD, IBS, and endometriosis, my nervous system struggles to relax, leading to both conscious and unconscious negative thinking. I am constantly in stress mode, and being in the present moment is challenging for me, so meditation is incredibly helpful. When I meditate, I’m teaching my ego and body to feel safe so it doesn’t have to stress out, allowing me to relax, activate my own healing abilities and then tap into my intuition and spirit guides more consistently. I’m also working on generating more positive thoughts and emotions. After meditation, I feel lighter, energized, and more positive. These positive feelings and thoughts enable me to handle negative situations with greater ease and reduce pain with my ailments for long periods of time. I’m not perfect, and I still have bad days, but they’re not as severe as they used to be.
So before you start your meditation practice, figure out your why and then do research on what you would like in your meditations. It also helps to find a meditation teacher in person or virtually who can help you, like me. I offer private guided healing meditations to help others learn how to quiet your mind, activate your healing abilities, and connect to your intuition. If you are interested in working with me, send me a message. Let's connect and see how I can support you!
Love you!
Alex
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