Meditation is a practice enjoying a spike of popularity in western culture. It is certainly becoming less stigmatised.
Despite the growing amount of exponents and practitioners, it is a habit that is frustratingly difficult to adapt into a modern lifestyle. Some earnestly try, a few succeed, and quite a few fail.
My own experiences with meditation have been difficult. The beginnings brought frustration, anxiety, and embarrassment. Without seeing immediate benefits I was quick to blame the activity, believe that it was “not for me”, and blow away any potential.
But I did stick with it, perhaps for nothing more than the luxury of free time. I’m overwhelmingly happy that I did, and though it has been a bumpy ride involving frustration, laziness, and even apathy, the six month mark has brought visible benefits.
Being is a verb too
A common cause of anxiety in my life is a flagellant focus upon doing. At its least, this is an impulse to perform, to be productive. At its worst, I find myself ignoring my own enjoyment and presence in daily experience. This is not an uncommon complaint; I’m no unique psychological snowflake and you can spare me the Freudian sofa.
We continuously feel that we should “do”. Even into our free time, even in moments that are to be savoured. In the same vein, we ignore the importance and meaning of what it is to “be”. Doing is an activity with a purpose, a task, a means towards an outcome or goal. Being is an expression of the self, of personality, of enjoying and sharing a moment with others.
Meditation has consistently enabled me to “be” present in moments that bring me happiness. I focus more upon others, and express myself better. The ability to be present in a moment drastically improves your relationship with others.
Less anxiety
If I were to tell you the main reason I attempted meditation, I would tell you about a constant underlying anxiety in my life. Productivity related anxiety, social anxiety; I’m not sure how I would best label it. It was just there.
To deal with this, I held the belief that you were the master of your emotions at all times. By resisting an emotional state you would be able to morph it into something more productive. This causes tension, anxiety, and resentment for the build up of “unwanted” emotions. A cocktail of instability. Sleepless nights.
I feel not only much more aware of emotions that cause me discomfort, but also acceptant. We are subject to such a wide spectrum of states and feelings; to suppress their unique messages would sever the important relationship between your mind and body.
I feel I have the increased ability now to understand emotions, interpret, and move on.
Understanding others
Understanding your own emotions can also allow you to better empathise with others. Coming to appreciate your own spectrum of feelings reveals mind-blowing richness in texture and scale. Other people are no different. I feel less angry with others when I don’t get my way; thinking of reasons why they may feel or act in their certain way.
Similar results, less effort
A problem has exhausted and broken your resolve. You continue to bash your head away, your mind moves in two dimensions. This is a pointless frustration that everyone shares.
It is infinitely better when we come back later. Come back more focused. The Pareto Principle[1] applies to your own actions also. Prohibiting yourself from resting and recuperating your way into a more effective state of mind will result in wasted time and energy. Meditation has allowed me to work less, while achieving the same (or even better) results.
Needing less sleep
I don’t need to sleep so much. I’m unsure of whether this is a commonly reported observation. Twenty minutes meditation feels exactly the same as a powernap, without the inconvenience of having to fall unconscious. This is huge for me; I no longer need to lie down, try to fall asleep, and reboot.
Anchoring a default emotional state
Regularly and consciously attaining a certain positive emotional state every day strongly anchors it to your personality. The more frequently you feel a certain way, the more you associate it with your default or natural state of being. Meditating habitually makes it easier for you to bookmark the feeling of calm and return to it from a later page. More often I am finding myself reverting to calmness and clarity as opposed to anxiety and restlessness.
Six months, six benefits, and six parting words:
You should really try this too.
[1] The “80/20” rule : 80% of result generally comes from 20% of the causes
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