I’m sure you’ve heard how great meditation is and how you should do it everyday. But do you wonder why? What is so great about meditation? There are numerous cognitive benefits to a regular meditation practice but there are emotional and physical benefits as well. I really delved deep into understanding meditation when I had cancer. I kept getting led to it again and again; in books I read and by people I met. So I dug in. I’m a real information seeker, I love to know the why of something and what I learned about meditation blew me away.
You Can Change Your Experience
One of the most impactful reads about the incredible benefits of meditation was The Best Last Cure. This book examines Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and their impact on our health and possibility of future disease. It’s fascinating! The author is a science journalist, who suffers from autoimmune disease. She spends a year using mind/body modalities; meditation, yoga and acupuncture, to try and improve her health and her joy. The outcome is incredible and will turn you into a believer. I can’t recommend this book enough.
Anyways, she intrigued me into examining meditation on a scientific level. I had lymphoma and was curious about the link to childhood experiences and our health. She writes in depth about the connection and reinforces how much is within our control. Which is such a great message! It is easy to feel bound by our circumstances and struggles. And no doubt, many of you have struggled with hard things. But no matter what they are, there is always something you can control. You can ease your pain through gentle yoga, dampen your anxiety with mediation or call a friend when you’re feeling depressed. It’s not all out of your hands, no matter how hard things are. You get to choose your perspective.
A Simple Practice
Meditation is one of my favourite practices. It’s simple, accessible and impactful. Once you dip your toe in, you will notice it change you. There are these little moments where I notice how connected in I am, I feel more happiness and joy at little things. I am aware of the sound of the wind, my senses are tuned into the world around me. I feel life. And then it also works on hard days, where I can see myself choosing to avoid a feeling. Notice I’m trying to numb or not notice what I’m really feeling. It’s incredible to be able to notice and say to yourself “I’m bored and not feeling too happy so I’m browsing bedding online.” You will catch yourself with a cart full of linen sheets and 4 pairs of pajamas, close your computer and have a good laugh! We are all human. Meditation will help you know yourself and love yourself. Mindfulness helps you to shape your life intentionally.
So if you aren’t intrigued yet, let me start by telling you the science backed benefits.
Benefits of Meditation:
Reduces Stress
Stress is related to illness, in fact there is illness that is completely linked to stress. PTSD for example. Meditating reduces the stress hormone, cortisol, and therefore reduces the inflammation response. Stress also can impact sleep, cognitive function and our mental state (anxiety, depression). We encounter stress in our lives all the time. We need a practice to counteract it, we can’t avoid it.
Improved Focus
Since mediation is the practice of focusing, it of course helps improve that. What’s even more interesting is it helps us tune into the new information in our environment, which our brain can ignore, and can reduce mind wandering and improve problem solving. Studied have even shown that the benefits of mindful meditation training can last up to five years!
I know since co-vid, lockdown and increased screen time I am a lot more distracted. I feel really unfocused at times to the point I’m annoyed about it. There are a lot of demands on all of us and as a parent this is one of my biggest struggles. So thank the stars for meditation.
Reduce Inflammation
Studies have shown that regular meditation can reduce stress which triggers and inflammation is the precursor to a lot of disease including depression. If you have inflammation you can bet things aren’t happening optimally in your body. How cool is it that you can reduce it by meditating? No medication just breathe. They’ve also shown that meditation increases T-cell activity which fights disease. Your body really likes meditating!
Reduce Depression & Anxiety
Meditation can have a similar effect as medication in treating depression, anxiety and other emotional problems! You have the power to alter your mental health with your attention. I love the reinforcement of how much control you do have!
Reduce Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is linked to heart disease, stroke and premature death. So lowering your blood pressure can literally save your life. If the reduced inflammation didn’t sell you, hopefully this will! I think it’s especially scary as women because lots of what we know about heart disease is based on the male experience. Signs of a heart attack are different for women and some of them very subtle.
Treat Pain
I once took a mediation course with a teacher who was allergic to anaesthetic and pain medication. He had to have an eye surgery without medication. The thought is terrifying and you know what he used? Mindful meditation. You can turn on your body’s own natural opiates through meditation. If you practice, the next unpleasant experience you’ll be prepared.
Increase Will Power
Because it enhances mental discipline, you can increase your will power to help create better habits. Will power is a muscle, it gets tired over the day. So beef it up with meditation.
Decrease Cognitive Decline
A mindful meditation practice has been shown to slow the effects of Alzheimer’s and other cognitive decline. It helps increase focus and attention, which I know I need! I’m also curious about how important this will be for us as we age with the amount of screen time we have vs an older generation.
ACEs
The “negative health impacts of ACEs can be prevented by regulating the body’s response to stress.” And as we already know, mindful meditation decreases the stress response. ACEs are toxic stress, which is especially harmful to our health. And as I referenced above Donna Jackson Nakazawa’s book is a great read if you’re curious.
Will you give it a try?
Invest in this practice and it will change you; cognitively, physically and emotionally. Meditation is a light on hard days. It invites you to practice being present, really present. Focusing on your breath is a fundamental process, one you can’t live without, but we take for granted. But I promise it can feel like a great comfort and real self care.
I love this quote from Herman Hess, “Within yourself is a stillness, a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” Take that thought with you and let it comfort you. You have all you need within you.
