Does Meditation Help?

I get asked all the time about whether meditation is something to consider doing. For me, I would say yes. However it depends on you and what you want to achieve from it. Have you tried to bring meditation into your life? What happened?

Usually meditation can be seen as a dogma, as something that has to be fitted into an already busy life. Most of us are generally busy and wonder we will find time to do fit in meditation as well. Have you experienced this as well?

Pre Vipassana, I was sitting in meditation each morning when I awoke for a few minutes to set me up for the day ahead. I used the time to give thanks for the day ahead, and all the good things in my life. Then I would do the same in the evening before going to sleep. Sounds simple, but I found it had a huge impact on me. Have you ever tried giving thanks for they good things in your life and noticed.a shift?

Sometimes when you are too rigid in setting times it can go against you for you are likely to sit waiting for the time to pass rather than in meditation.

In the beginning there is no need to have long elaborate mediation sessions. All it takes is 5 minutes to tune into your self, your breath and how you are feeling, give thanks for the day and then gently ease yourself into the day. It will feel a lot different to reacting to an alarm and running round to get ready for work etc. Have you tried this?

I found that when I introduced mindfulness and meditation practices into my life it became easier to stay focused in my day to day activities. Things like noticing how I was feeling, taking time to tune into my breathe if I felt overwhelmed, and having full awareness and attention on what I am doing in the moment became a really helpful way to start training myself to be more in the present moment. Is there anything you do that helps you stay present?

I found that making meditation part of my lifestyle brought about healthy and happy relationships; inner peace and something I could share with the whole family. Introducing my children to quiet time and making a point of all sitting together and sharing things that we are grateful for each day can be really profound and help to create a strong family bond.

When you teach meditation to your children you are giving them a sense of personal responsibility and emotional intelligence from a young age, and an ability to self reflect and question life around them.

From my Vipassana experience I found that the longer I sat the more profound the results were. Longer sessions push you through resistances and helped me to see the habit patterns of my mind. When I react, how I react, the feelings that are stirred in me and the thoughts that come from a scattered mind. It can be challenging but the rewards are well worth the effort. Have you experienced anything like this?

If you do nothing, then nothing will change. So if you are happy in your life, have a deep sense of inner peace and joy no matter what life brings you then carry on and do nothing. However, if you feel that you want to be free from the endless thoughts in your head and to have a sense of deep peace then maybe a meditation practice could work for you.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences 🙏