“We live in a hectic world and deciding to meditate can be a beneficial and life changing choice”

Personal Experience

I used to suffer from anxiety due to a lot of overthinking but really did not want to use medication to overcome this problem. Although I did not listen at first, many people suggested that I try yoga and meditation. Once I gave it a try my life changed for the better! These practices may seem too metaphysical, spiritual or woo-woo for you, but that is exactly what we need. Both yoga and meditation allow you to really connect your mind, body and soul through the power of your breath. My overthinking and constant worrying steadily lessened and as this occurred, anxiety no longer had such a overwhelming hold on my life. It was during this early stage in my practice that the truth came to me; my anxiety stemmed from the fact that my thoughts controlled me, when I should have authority over my own thoughts. This makes meditation so powerful, it gives you the tools (breath) to take charge of your own thoughts. Your thoughts create your reality, so wouldn’t you want them to be positive and within your own control?

Too Busy to Meditate?

I know many people who are fully aware of the benefits of meditation, yet believe they are too busy to spend time on it. However, when you think you don’t have the time to meditate is exactly when you should be meditating.

Cultivating a daily practice of even just 12 minutes will help you feel calmer and more focused which will ultimately increase your productivity.

By meditating you are in a sense gifting yourself with more time and as well as a much more fulfilling and productive life. When we feel that we are too busy we become easily stressed, unhappy, impatient and frustrated, which in turn affects our physical and mental health. Meditation allows you to understand your own mind in a better way, which means you can transform your thoughts from negative to positive. This creates a healthier way of dealing with the stressors of life and improving your overall well-being.

Meditation is Easy

Some people may find the idea of meditation quite intimidating, but rest assured the process is actually very simple. Simplicity is a key principle when it comes to meditation and the more you practice the easier and more natural it will become. Let go of the notion that you need to control your mind or thoughts. The whole idea of meditation is not to have no thoughts at all, but rather to teach yourself not to react to these thoughts. We are humans and thoughts are a natural occurrence, even with many years of meditation practice. Meditation will help you become an objective observant of your thoughts, so that they do not have as much power over you.

By not giving these thoughts any emotional energy or reactions, you can let them go and will stop that tendency to overthink everything.

Techniques for Beginners

There are various different meditation techniques that you can try, ranging from the simple, short and easy ones to longer, advanced and more complex techniques. My meditation series posts will focus on a number of different techniques that are specifically aimed at helping beginners get started on their spiritual journey. Each of my follow up posts will cover a specific meditation technique in an easy to follow step by step format.

Have you tried meditation before?

*This post has been adapted for Steemit from my personal blog Holistic Mind, Body & Soul.