Meditation for Skeptics

The practice of meditation, of thinking deeply and focusing on oneself in the present moment, has become widely popular. It has been recommended as a way to cope with stress and anxiety while also being linked to helping people achieve a state of wellness and happiness. In theory, through this practice of centering oneself, one is able to become more thoughtful and rational in daily life while also exhibiting less aggression. 

By choosing to become more in-tune with their mind, someone can actively work to slow down their reaction time, reduce stress levels, clear their mind of clutter and actively pursue a life of feeling refreshed and energized. 

However, despite numerous reasons as to why meditation is beneficial, many individuals remain skeptical of its power to affect their daily lives.  

It is not difficult to see why meditation does not immediately appeal to us in our present-day culture that is fueled by distraction and appears to always want to click the “easy button” to fix life’s difficulties. 

Meditation involves daily practice, not to mention an investment of time and energy, which especially for those in early recovery, is difficult to muster. Including meditation on our to-do lists can become just one more line-item used to stress us out and contribute to our feelings of inadequacy or not measuring up to the day’s expectations. In addition, for meditation to work, it requires a bit of a buy-in that the practice will be beneficial to you in the long term despite the lack of instantaneous results.

Some important reasons to consider adding meditation to your daily routine include the following:

1.     Mindful Living. Mindfulness is an important aspect of meditation, and describes a state of being more aware of one’s thoughts and behaviors. The understanding of this practice is that with heightened awareness, you are able to exercise more rationality. By taking time to reflect on your thoughts and focus on your breathing, you can bring yourself to the present and truly be in the moment.

2.     Better Stress Management. One primary use of meditation is to train the brain to react more calmly in situations. Stress can easily trigger depression and anxiety, and meditation is a good way to help you manage it.  Through meditation, you can unlock a part of your brain that helps with better decision making and can train yourself to not stress over small matters but instead to find solutions.

The more you meditate, the more adept your brain becomes at processing information. Additionally, the brain has an amazing capacity for growth, and is offered that opportunity when an individual engages in regular meditation. Studies also show that your attention tends to significantly improve, thus making it much easier to be present in any given moment and also to have improved memory.

3.     Improved Sleep Patterns. Sleep is essential to our bodily functions. Getting enough sleep is highly recommended to ensure you are well equipped to handle the difficulties of any given day. For anyone struggling with insomnia, regular meditation is a good way to ensure that you sleep through the night, and are more relaxed when going to bed. The quality of sleep should also improve over time.

4.     Manage Emotions. Meditation helps manage emotions such as fear, anger and anxiety as through regular practice, the emotional response to life’s stressors usually becomes much less powerful. Over time, negative emotions become less frequent and can be better-managed thanks to this practice. However, meditation is not a promise that negative emotions will not arise, but it does help in learning how to skillfully react to stressful situations and to avoid undesirable emotional escalation.

When beginning a meditative practice, the important thing is consistency. Start small and start reasonably. Set realistic expectations for yourself, and challenge yourself to follow through with them. Again, don’t expect immediate results, but know that with regular practice, you will notice a difference. 

There are many different methods of meditation, and in today’s digital society there are many apps designed to assist beginners in starting their practice. Comment below, or let us know on instagram what works best for you, and any recommendations!