I am naturally a fairly manic person, always on the go and find it quite hard to do nothing and just chill. For most of my life this hasn’t been a problem but as time ticks I am increasingly feeling like I need to get better at being still.
Historically I have always cleared my head by running, but the problem is that the adrenaline often makes me feel even more pumped up. So I have been trying to do more yoga and reading (not quite doing yet) about meditation. Since doing a bit of reading I have been amazed at the positive results found not just anecdotally but through scientific research.
The benefits of meditation are often talked about in lofty way and became famous thanks to the Beatles, but scientific studies have helped clarify what the real affects on the brain are. In a study of meditators and non-meditators the brains of the experienced meditators were found to be thicker in the area associated with emotion and attention. Also, a survey conducted by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) indicated that if someone has had three or more periods of depression, meditation could reduce their chances of having another depressive episode by more than half.
Put simply, meditation (often described as mindfulness) is a mental process by which you learn to clear your head of the incessant babble of everyday thought. Neuroscientist Shanida Nataraja in an interview in the Guardian believes that: “by drawing your attention to the constant chattering of the mind, you become aware of the gap between your thoughts – the silence amid the noise. The sense of peace and tranquillity arises from this silence.”
According to Nataraja, every time you consciously clear your thoughts, you’re strengthening the right-hand side of your brain. “This is the side of your brain associated with intuitive and holistic thinking, rather than logical, analytical thought. In a society reliant on left-brained activity, meditation means we can use both sides of the brain.”
According to the Trancentental Mediation Society over 600 scientific research studies indicate benefits to all areas of life including:
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Decreased depression
- Increased creativity
- Better health such as:
- 47% reduced rate of heart attack, stroke, and death in heart patients
- Reduced blood pressure
How do you do it and juggle a family?
Well this bit I am still working on, it’s definitely not easy with a busy family life but if you really concentrate you can normally grab 10 minutes to yourself. I found the site Grow Yourself a quick and easy guide on how to get started. Click here to read more.
- Sit with a straight back. Don’t try to meditate lying down because you are likely to fall asleep. Meditation brings relaxation and peace but at the same time this is a dynamic peace. Meditation is quite different than the relaxation of sleep. When we really meditate, we are fully alert and conscious. Our sense of awareness is heightened. Afterwards you’ll have a positive feeling for the world and a renewed sense of dynamism.
- Don’t eat before meditating. After a heavy meal your body will be lethargic with digestion.
- It is not necessary to mediate in the lotus posture. It is fine to meditate in a chair, as long as the back is straight.
- It is helpful to take a shower before meditating.
- Burning incense and having a candle are not necessary, but they can add a little extra inspiration.
- It is good to meditate early in the morning.
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