There are certain truths about meditation that you should know before diving into the practice.
Meditation has been a game-changer for my anxiety and my mindset.
It has given me an opportunity to tap into my subconscious mind, get behind my anxious thoughts, and release painful emotions of my past while learning to stay mindful of the present moment.
Meditation was not something I actively pursued.
I had struggled for many years with obsessive thoughts, suicidal ideations, and negative thought patterns. The pattern of these nagging thoughts slowly began to wear on me until I couldn’t even tell the difference between the real me and the overthinking me – they became the same in my mind.
It wasn’t until a friend turned me on to meditation through his own experience and the book he gave me that I finally said, alright, fine, I’ll give it a try.
WHAT IS MEDITATION?
Meditation is the act of “engaging in contemplation or reflection.”
It’s also defined as “to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.”
Meditation is essentially closing your eyes, sitting still, and letting your thoughts pass through without getting caught up in them.
MY MEDITATION EXPERIENCE
I began my meditation practice in 2016. I can’t stress to you how little I knew about the practice. All I knew was that I was struggling with anxiety, bouts of depression, obsessive negative thoughts, and needed to change up my daily habits.
I began by meditating for 20 minutes per day (I don’t recommend starting that long) and maintained it for years after. But when I first began, I HATED it. I could hardly last a minute, not to mention twenty. But I kept at it day after day until it became second nature.
Eventually, I began craving my meditation sessions. I didn’t want to miss one day.
I felt calmer, especially in situations I had struggled with before, like sitting in traffic, social events, or watching my favorite football team in a big game.
Meditation has an impact on your brain, your body, and your mind.
If you stick with your practice, it can positively impact your overall life.
Here are five simple truths about meditation you should know.
1. MEDITATION IS A PROCESS THAT TAKES TIME TO DEVELOP
One of the biggest misconceptions about meditation is that it’s a quick fix to all of your problems. Unfortunately, even with all of its immediate benefits, it is not a quick fix for any deeper issues you are facing, such as stress, anxiety, or obsessive thinking. This is one of the immediate truths about meditation you should know. Meditation takes time to feel the benefits and the fruits of your labor. The benefits of meditation are a long-term game; you need to practice daily for weeks and months if you want to experience all meditation offers. Remembering this will make it much easier as you begin your daily meditation practice. Don’t rush – take your time, be methodical, and keep going. I promise you will eventually feel the gain.
2. MEDITATION ISN’T ABOUT STOPPING THOUGHTS
Another misconception about meditation is that it’s supposed to help “stop your thoughts” from coming into your mind. This notion is not accurate. You cannot stop thoughts from coming into your mind, but you can learn how to disengage with those thoughts through daily meditation.
Think of this analogy – a thought is like a train car on a long, never-ending train passing by you on the tracks. Each thought is a different train car. You can’t stop the train car from passing, but you can learn how to view the train car and then let it pass without getting fixated on just that particular train car.
Meditation is the process of learning how to view your thoughts as if you’re the consciousness above them, watching and experiencing them, and then letting them go.
If you go into meditation with this mindset, you will be much the wiser.
This is one of the ultimate truths about meditation.
3. MEDITATION HELPS DECREASE BLOOD PRESSURE
One of the often-overlooked areas when discussing the benefits of daily meditation is how it can help decrease blood pressure.
For many people, blood pressure issues are a significant issue. Over time, high blood pressure makes the heart work harder to pump blood, leading to poor heart function. High blood pressure also contributes to a condition known as atherosclerosis, which is a narrowing of the arteries and can lead to heart attack and stroke. And because meditation helps improve physical health, it can help reduce strain on the heart.
A meta-analysis of twelve studies with nearly one thousand participants found that meditation helped reduce blood pressure, especially among older volunteers and those who had higher blood pressure before the study.
In conclusion, meditation helps reduce blood pressure by relaxing the nerve signals that coordinate blood vessel tension, heart function, and the fight, flight, or freeze response that increases alertness in stressful situations.
4. MEDITATION SHOWS UP IN SMALL YET SIGNIFICANT WAYS
One of the truths about meditation I have felt myself, is that it shows up in small yet significant ways. If you practice meditation daily and put the time and effort into perfecting your practice, the long-term benefits are sneaky and astounding. You first must understand that meditation is not a miracle drug – it will not cure all of your issues on the first day or at all. But, it can help lessen the load of your stress and anxiety levels, your obsessive thinking, and your overall patience, empathy, and many other vital areas. Meditation is a keystone habit that has a positive effect on many other areas of your life.
5. MEDITATION IS A GATEWAY TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE
Meditation will not solve all of your problems alone, but it will act as a gateway to a healthier lifestyle. What do I mean? When you incorporate daily meditation into your routine, you will notice over time the effect it has on other areas of your life. Mediation should be viewed as one piece of a healthy lifestyle puzzle. Meditation can become a gateway to a healthier lifestyle by allowing you to calm yourself, slow down your thoughts, and experience more empathy, gratitude, and joy.
IN REVIEW
Meditation has a plethora of short and long-term benefits. If you have never meditated previously and want to try, check out my guide for beginners and make sure you study and understand the core concepts. Meditation is something that has profoundly changed my life and the way I live it, and with a bit of practice, patience, and presence, it can do the same for you.
Although we strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in the medical and health area for your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any medical or health-related decisions. For your health-related questions, please seek the advice of a licensed physician or any other qualified health care provider immediately.
Latest posts by Brad Coreno (see all)
- 8 Proven Tips To Improve Your Communication Skills - April 29, 2022
- 5 Proven Ways To Manage Work-Related Anxiety - April 3, 2022
- 10 Steps To Develop A Growth Mindset - March 13, 2022