What Is The Power of Meditation
The power of Meditation is a practice that involves training your mind to focus, and it’s becoming quite popular these days. You’ve probably read articles about it, heard about celebrities who swear by it or even know people in your everyday circles who sing its praises. It’s used for a variety of reasons. Some feel it helps them to feel calmer when life is particularly hectic. Others just want to reduce their overall stress or to improve their sleep and feel meditation could help. You may have heard that meditating can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. All of these things are true. Let’s examine them, along with other benefits of regular meditation, to see just what all the fuss is about and to help you determine whether meditation seems like a practice you may wish to incorporate into your life.
Stress Reduction
Reducing stress is one of the most sought-after benefits of meditation. In today’s world, there’s a lot to worry about. Sitting quietly to relax your mind and focus your thoughts seems like a worthwhile method for finding a calm moment, but science actually shows this practice works to lower stress levels. A hormone called cortisol is released into our bodies when we’re physically and emotionally stressed, and it can wreak all kinds of havoc on us. The release of cortisol stimulates the production of chemicals known as cytokines that promote inflammation. They also contribute to higher blood pressure, increased fatigue and brain fog, along with added symptoms of depression and anxiety. Studies have demonstrated that mindfulness meditation leads to a reduction of these chemicals, in turn lessening overall feelings of stress in participants.
Better Emotional Well-Being
If you deal with anxiety or depression, meditation could be a tool to improve your overall sense of emotional health. One scientific study looked at the electrical activity in the brains of participants who practiced meditation and those who didn’t. The researchers discovered that there was a significant change in the areas of the brain responsible for optimism and positive thinking in those who meditated. In another study involving individuals suffering from depression, 18 people were asked to practice meditation for a three-year period. This work determined that the participants actually experienced decreases in their depression that proved to be long-lasting and significant.
Improved Sleep
Many of us struggle with restless sleep or insomnia. It’s a chronic issue that affects you in so many ways. Lack of sleep makes us less alert, clouds our thinking and is detrimental to our physical health. In one research study, participants were placed in two groups. The first group was instructed to meditate, while the other was not. I bet you can guess which group ended up sleeping better and for longer periods. Yep, it was the one that practiced meditation. One of the reasons meditating helps you sleep better is because you learn to control those racing thoughts that keep so many of us awake for hours after our heads hit the pillow. It also aids in overall relaxation.
Decreased Blood Pressure
Meditation has been shown to reduce strain on the heart. Studies have shown that meditating can help to reduce tension in the blood vessels and relax the nerve signals that control heart function, leading to lowering of blood pressure. It also lessens the flight or fight response that is known to contribute to high-stress levels and to have an effect on blood pressure.
These are just some of the many health and emotional benefits of meditation. There are numerous others. Engaging in a regular practice of meditating can help you to find specific advantages it can provide for you.
Anyone Can Benefit From Living A More Spiritual Life
Spirituality is a concept we hear a lot about these days. However, you may not really be sure what the term means. That’s because it’s evolved quite a bit over the years. Once, the word referred to being religious. Whenever someone spoke of being spiritual, you could almost guarantee they meant they were speaking about their formal religion. These days, the term is more fluid. It extends to refer to any form of growth process aimed at reaching a higher consciousness. Spiritual activities of all types allow people to move toward becoming their best selves and to focus their intent on living a purpose-driven life. These activities can include meditation, yoga, research, fellowship, communing with nature and more.
Hopefully, now you’re starting to get a clearer picture of just what the word “spirituality” encompasses. It’s a broad concept that can include numerous aspects, as long as the ultimate goal is to bring you fulfillment in pursuing something bigger than yourself. You may understand now that your spiritual practice can involve anything that is meaningful to you and that it is likely to evolve. You can add activities such as meditating, yoga, reading, journaling or hiking to your regular spiritual routine. While this may all sound great, you’re probably wondering why you might want to invest such time and energy into a daily regimen such as any of these. I’d like to help you better understand, so let’s move on to discuss the benefits of spirituality and how working to become more spiritual can enhance your life.
Meaning and Purpose
Pursuing a spiritual practice provides insight into yourself and the world around you that you might otherwise miss. By engaging in activities such as mindful meditation or the reading of spiritual literature, you are setting aside time to practice a specific intent. These activities can lead you to think about things in a deeper manner and cause you to question things you once simply accepted blindly. All of this can give your life more significant meaning and purpose.
Motivation
With a renewed sense of purpose and meaning in your life, you’re bound to feel a bit more motivated to face each new day, no matter what it brings. When you know what you want out of life, it’s an adventure to consider all the ways in which you can go after it. The insight that comes with your spiritual musings can provide that motivation. Even when faced with challenges, your spiritual side can bounce back more easily and still feel hope for moving forward.
Clarity and Attentiveness
Life gets busy. Believe me, I get it. When you’ve got a lot on your plate, it can be so easy to find yourself going through the motions on autopilot. Spirituality grounds you in the moment and teaches you to be mindful, making it easier to see what’s most important to you right now. You can then clearly move ahead to prioritize your life instead of simply going with the flow. Your attention is heightened, and you become more aware.
Contentment
When you take a spiritual path and begin to develop an understanding of your higher purpose, you’ll find that you start to feel a sense of content you may not have known before. That’s because you’ve learned to focus your thoughts, to embrace gratitude and to understand what matters most to you in life. You’re likely to feel a sense of peace and optimism to guide your daily activities in a way that leads you to personal fulfillment.
These are just some of the main benefits of living a more spiritual life. I’m excited for you as you begin your journey to discovering more of the personal advantages that await you!
While you’re here download your free 10 Minutes to Zen with Step by Step Meditation Practices.
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