benefits of Meditation

Please keep an open mind and read this article from my experience and the benefits of meditation. Like you I was very sceptical but meditation was recommended by my occupational therapist when I experienced a scary experience of having a fit on the way to work. Please read my article “Why did I wake up in an ambulance?” that was the catalyst for this project.

the benefits of meditation

From my experience meditation can be difficult to start and to be honest I am still learning and it is one of the habits that I would like to explore and improve by practising. however below are some of the benefits from my research.

1. Meditation can reduce stress and improve our emotional response to difficult situations. From my experience we have periods in our life when we are highly stressed and it feels like our mind is running at a hundred miles an hour. However, I have found that meditation can promote relaxation and improve my emotional response to difficult situations.

2. Mindful meditation has often been called “strength training for the brain” and like any new exercise it will take time to learn how to meditate and slow down your mind. Please try for a few minutes a day and I promise you will improve.

3. Improved focus and concentration. I have been very fortunate in my career to work with many people from different countries and cultures. Like most jobs/careers we can have periods of high emotional stress and uncertainty. I have mentioned in a few articles that I have had periods of job insecurity and threat of redundancy. I spoke to an ex colleague and friend based in Pune in India and he was an important mentor as he was always calm and relaxed in difficult situations and writing this article I asked him about his yoga practice and meditation. He confirmed that he meditated 20 minutes each day and he confirmed it provided him the mind space to be grateful for his opportunities and also remain focused and calm and set his daily health, family and career goals.

4. Reduced Anxiety and Depression: Meditation has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by calming the mind and promoting a more positive outlook on life. I think this a valid point and really focus on the positive aspects of your life and time to calm your mind and focus on positive goals.

5. Physical Health: Meditation has been linked to reduced blood pressure, improved heart health, and strengthened immune system function.

6. Enhanced Sleep Quality: Many people struggle with sleep disturbances. Meditation can promote better sleep by calming the mind and reducing the impact of racing thoughts before bedtime. This is a really important benefit and please read my article “The importance of sleep” for more tips on improving your sleep

Different ways to meditate

When I was recommended mediation to reduce my stress levels and improve my focus and provide clarity to my mind, like you I had visions of sitting in a room with incense sticks. However, I have researched the subject and below are some other alternatives to add meditation to our daily habit routine.

1. Walking. This is an important aspect of our fitness goals to combine meditation with time in nature and please look at free apps on Spotify or other music/ podcast apps and search “ Mindful/meditation walking”. You can incorporate this into your daily walking routine and focus on the sights and sounds on your walk. Focus on the sky, listen to the birds in the trees, listen to the wind and focus on your breathing. I highly recommend any free app you can find and a guided mindfulness walk will clear your mind.

2. Being awed by nature. This also one of my personal pillars of change , to spend more time in nature, clear you mind and focus on your health and fitness. There has been a great deal of research on the power of awe.

“Awe is an intense and overwhelming feeling of reverence, wonder, or admiration triggered by encountering something that is vast, inspiring, and often beyond one’s usual scope of understanding”

— Larry Moore

I really enjoy spending time in nature from walking and cycling but I am interested in your experience and if you would like to contribute an article on the benefits of meditation in nature and your experience of the power of awe. The photograph below, taken on a dog walk at sunset, for me was really awe inspiring and the beauty of the sky and clouds really focuses the mind and provide that feeling of gratitude and happiness to experience the beauty of nature.

3. Art, drawing or being creative: There are many scientific articles on the power of art on our mind and focus. I have written a dedicated article “The-power-of-art-for-well-being” and I have also added my own personal experience.

4. Singing in a choir and playing music: I have written a dedicated article “The power of music for mental wellbeing” and you can read about the benefits of music to our mental wellbeing and focus. I personally really enjoy the sound of the Saxophone but I am not sure my family or neighbours would be happy with the practice sessions!!.

5. There are many other hobbies that you participate in that clears the mind and the aim of our magazine is for members to contribute articles and share their experience and motivate and inspire us. If you would like to contribute an article please visit the contributors page.

In summary, I have read many articles and scientific papers on the power of meditation and mindfulness and I would be really interested to hear about your experience and suggestions. My wife commented that housework and DIY is also a suggestion for meditation and focusing on the mind !!

This is a subject that I will continue to explore and I personally find cycling and spending time in nature, great exercise for the mind !