 Meditation is such an important aspect to our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Many people think that it’s just a metaphysical woo-woo type of activity. Some people automatically think of spiritualists sitting in the lotus position (criss-cross apple-sauce) while chanting ohm. I assure you, I have never meditated in that position nor do I chant, although there’s nothing wrong with that! I’m just saying there’s many ways to meditate. But I digress.
Meditation does have great benefits in terms of spiritual growth, metaphysical healing, enhanced intuition, vivid dreams, heightened awareness of synchronicities, and a plethora of other experiences. However, meditation is also crucial to our mental, physical, and emotional well-being too. In fact, more and more physicians recommend meditation to manage stress and compliment healing modalities or treatments. We know how detrimental stress is to our overall health, so if you meditate just to relieve stress alone, you are doing wonders for yourself. According to Mayoclinic.org, a few of the physical health benefits of meditation may include:
- Lowered stress and anxiety (which affects us greatly)
- Improved sleep
- Improved digestion
- Less pain such as headaches, etc.
- Blood pressure management
 In my experience, meditation has also helped me to have more patience, greater clarity and focus, enhanced creativity and problem-solving skills, in addition to the spiritual benefits I mentioned above. I began meditating back in 2012 and it was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I was suffering from Lyme Disease and migraines and desperate for some kind of relief. I’m not saying meditation healed me, but along with the doctor’s medical intervention, meditation helped me to overcome my illness and move my body from a state of dis-ease to ease (wellness). Meditation DID show me how to handle my migraine issue and to this day, I use the technique to release pent-up energy (pressure) from my head! Through meditation, I found peace, had less pain, an increase in energy, and an overall sense of relief. In fact, any time I face physical ailments, I increase my MEditation time and although I can’t prove it, I feel I heal more quickly.
There are many types of meditation that range from just a few moments of “being in the now,” to extended, super-metaphysical experiences. Meditation doesn't have to be a huge ordeal. You don't have to sit in specific positions or follow a ritual of sorts. For day-to-day wellness and stress relief, I would recommend a short and simple meditation, daily or a few times a week. I confess, when I first started, I would spend hours setting up my room with candles, essential oils, special lighting and music, and I would have these extensive, powerful meditation sessions. “Aha” moments for sure. Over the years, however, I’ve realized I just don’t have the time or need for this so I’ve learned to narrow it down to short sessions, more frequently.
I’m not going to get into all of the different types of meditation modalities in this article. My goal is to just plant a meditation seed to see if it’s something you might be interested in. But I can share a little something to get you started in case your curiosity is already piqued!
Mindful meditation is a simple meditation that anyone can do. Grab 5-10 minutes during your lunch or break time or perhaps upon awakening in the morning. Just find a place and a position that allows you to quiet your mind for a little while. If your mind wanders (which it often does), just go with it. Don’t get frustrated or think you are failing at meditation. You can focus on something like your breath or heartbeat and when your active mind starts thinking about all the stuff you need to do, bring your attention back to your focus point (breath or heartbeat). Mindful meditation is a great beginner’s modality and over time, your mind strays less and less. Just don't stress about it because that defeats the purpose. Breathe and enjoy the peace and the time with your beautiful self.
Guided meditation is great for those who have wandering minds or aren’t sure what to focus on or what to do. There are so many guided meditations on Youtube but listen to the video first to make sure it’s something you resonate with. Trust me on that. There are some weird videos out there, plus sometimes the ads pop up and ruin the moment, or the music is annoying. Just listen to it first to make sure it feels right to you. There are guided meditations for various outcomes such as grounding, better sleep, letting go, peace, love, creativity, manifestation, and so much more.
Kim Tip: Something that I have discovered over the years is the benefit of hearing your own voice during a guided meditation. I recommend writing out your own guided meditations or affirmations, record yourself and play your own recorded versions during your meditation. This way you can listen to yourself which is a very powerful experience!
Lastly, I recommend keeping a meditation journal of some kind. It’s certainly not a requirement so don’t put pressure on yourself to do so. I know you don’t need any more tasks to think about. I kept a meditation and dream journal for a few years and I can attest, it’s time consuming but eye-opening as well! Some things to jot down:
- How are you feeling or what’s going on in your life?
- Are you sleeping well or having an increase in vivid dreams?
- Is your physical health changing such as lowered blood pressure or less stiffness in your neck? (for example)
- Do you feel like you have more patience and more understanding?
- Are you having less stress or anxiety?
- Do you have more physical energy?
- Are you having an increase in synchronicities?
So, that’s my little introduction about meditation. I hope I have inspired you to give it a try. Below are some of my own guided meditations and videos that you may fiind helpful.
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