Living in today’s chaotic world full of distractions and noise has contributed to the rise in the popularity of meditation.
Different places will give you different definitions of meditation. However, given the numerous benefits of meditation, I believe it is both the art and science of focusing the mind to achieve calmness, relaxation, and clarity.
Meditation dates back to 5,000 BCE and has strong ties to religious practices usually associated with achieving wisdom. Aside from its spiritual significance, meditation is now recognized as one of the most effective tools for addressing issues on physical, emotional, and mental wellness.
Why is meditation important?
Science has come a long way in explaining the physical benefits of meditation since its early days.
When I was dealing with anxiety in 2019, meditation was one of the exercises that helped to alleviate my worries and fears. This is only one side of the coin, as meditation also has a number of physical and mental health benefits.
Meditation, in addition to providing you with calmness, peace, and balance, also aids in the healing of your body. Meditation, according to several scientific studies, effectively reduces conditions such as anxiety, chronic pain, depression, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Why you should practice meditation?
It is easy to get burnt out living in the 21st century where work and life have so many demands. Meditation can effectively help you cope with stress and avoid burnout entirely.
When I think of successful women who meditate, I am reminded of Arianna Huffington, co-founder of the Huffington Post and CEO of Thrive Global, who relies on a regular self-care routine that includes daily meditation to avoid burnout.
Huffington stated in an interview with High Existence: “I wish I had avoided falling victim to the collective delusion that burning out is the necessary price for accomplishment and success,” and “I wish I’d appreciated just how powerful it can be to introduce just five minutes of meditation to your day.” “You should not compromise balance and self-care for high performance; renewal is part of the process,”
How do you get started with meditation?
While you don’t need much to get started in meditation. It helps to have a basic structure to get you started.
Follow these simple steps to begin your meditation journey effectively:
- Prepare your meditation space – make sure that your space is comfortable and conducive to the meditation activity. Put away your devices to minimize distractions.
- Sit or lie comfortably – by sitting or lying comfortably, you allow yourself to relax which makes it easier for your mind to focus.
- Close your eyes – Closing your eyes helps you tune out external activities and point your attention inwards. You may use an eye cover or mask to help you minimize your distractions.
- Focus on your breath – clearing your mind of thoughts can be a difficult task. By focusing on your breath, you let go of any thoughts that cause you discomfort.
Meditation, like other exercises to improve your well-being, is an ongoing journey. To make meditation more sustainable, begin with short sessions of as little as 5 minutes and gradually increase the length as you progress. Aside from that, there are plenty of free and paid apps that can help you in your meditation practice. Download them to your phone, tablet, or computer for easy access during your next practice.
Self-improvement requires you to clear your mind. Looking at meditation as an art and science of focusing the mind gives you all the tools you need to find the clarity you seek, no matter how hazy the horizons appear.