This is a very meaningful topic for me… Mostly because I
don’t do it nearly enough! Despite universal nudges that would make Ghandi
himself frustrated……
I am a very practical person, and I like to understand the
purpose of an activity, whether it be sport or cleaning, I like there to be a
reason for me to do it. And the meaning needs to be on a relatively deep level,
for example I do not usually like walking, even though I know it is good for my
health, unless I have somewhere to go. A destination, other than to return home
empty-handed, helps me to focus and get the job done.
What I find with meditation, is that if it is undirected, I
do not see the point and often decide to do something else. This results in me
sitting down to meditate perhaps once a week, at best… I know there are heaps
of meditations on YouTube that I could do, but I often find it hard to do
something if I do not know what to expect (which often blocks my psychic
development!!), a fear of the unknown is one I have to deal with in this life
and I have as yet not discovered how to… It occurs to me while writing this
that meditation may be the very thing I need!! Weird, huh?!?! Hardly… anyway, I
digress…
So, what is the purpose of meditation? What are the benefits
that I can employ in my everyday life?
Without doing any actual research, my first thought is that it
gives you time out from your life and the stress of holding down a job and a
house (which for a single childless woman is not really hard). This is probably
where I get stuck. I don’t really have any stresses, and if I do I tend to deal
with it in a positive way anyway. I tend to be very organised and practical
with deadlines etc so I rarely get stuck last minute… well, that is if I don’t
put things off until the last minute, but then I just tell myself I put myself
here, quit your bitching and get yourself out!
What about the physical benefits? I have had to do some research
about this section, as my first draft was just ignorant ramblings about the possibility
of it helping with sleep and metabolism and stuff. I really wanted to know so I
did it. This is what I found.
Benefits:
- Reduces stress and anxiety.
- Slows brain functions (the article does not say why this is a good thing, but I think that anything having a rest has got to be good!).
- Increases focus.
- More creativity: through open-monitoring, or guided, meditation.
- More compassion and empathy: apparently meditation activates the amygdala, the part of the brain that processes emotion, one experiment found.
- Improves memory.
- Improves cognitive processes: through more grey matter, which leads to more positive emotions, longer-lasting emotional stability and heightened focus. Apparently, meditation reduces the effects of age-related damage to grey matter and can reduce the decline of cognitive functioning (link to a reduction in Alzheimer’s?).
- Boosts immunity: Meditation apparently activates disease fighting genes (recent research) which can help protect against pain, high blood pressure and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Balances hormone levels: relaxation is linked to higher levels of feel-good hormones such as serotonin.
- Helps with fertility issues.
- Stress is linked to decreased digestion and immunity, so perhaps relaxation/meditation can help boost the digestive system and metabolism leading to weight loss?!?!
- Relieves irritable bowel syndrome.
- Acts as an anti-inflammatory.
- Calmness – thoughts occur but are the witness, while in a stressed or ‘ordinary’ mind the thought is the boss. This reduces reaction to situations and allows you to sail through difficult situations.
- Sharpens the mind through focusing and expanding through relaxation.
There are literally hundreds of others, one website boasted 100 benefits! I have listed the ones I feel are of benefit to me, perhaps not now but in the future!
But what about the spiritual benefits? Research suggests
that it helps you to discover your true self, sharpen your mind, develop your intuition and expand your
consciousness, which I can attest to. I have had some awesome experiences
meditating that have helped me on my spiritual journey. Most recently I lit my
God and Goddess candle and asked them to be present with me during the
meditation and I just sat in their energy, getting to know them and how they
interact with me on a physical level, conversing with them to seek
clarification on a few topics which they happily gave me. For me, after this
experience, I realised that meditation is a way to increase your energy levels
to converse and merge with deity, spirit guides and perhaps deceased loved one
to get messages or to simply honour them and increase your own connection to ad
relationship with them. For me now, meditation is more about connecting with
deity and my own spiritual nature and reminding myself that it is a part of who
I am. Still, I don’t meditate nearly as much as I should, which is a major
issue of neglect on my part, as I am sure that I will feel better if I do
meditate every day. I am not sure what it is that prevents me, fear probably –
fear of the unknown, fear that nothing happens and probably most importantly fear
that something does and I will not believe it (as I am also want to do). Or
maybe I am just thinking too much about it and not doing it enough… Maybe I
should just sit and breathe deeply and open my mind to the possibilities of it
all…… I feel, excluding the obvious physical benefits, it will help increase my
connection to deity and my true spiritual self so I need to make a commitment
of at least 15 minutes a day. This can be part of my daily ritual to help
strengthen my spiritual self and help her to come out more. I know when I did
make it a daily habit, part of my routine (even if it was as an escape from a
relatively bad situation), I felt more confident, aware and compassionate in my
daily life. Perhaps I can get her back, or maybe even evolve to a better me?
Sounds like a lovely idea…
Will I keep the commitment though???? Perhaps I start
with 5 minutes a day……
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