Here is something interesting; a new definition of meditation – courtesy of the The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Therapies in the USA: Learning to focus our attention and suspend the stream of thoughts that normally occupy our mind.
There are many definitions of meditation, and often they relate to why we meditate. So this week, the top 10 reasons why people meditate, but first
Thought for the day
The next big movement
Is Stillness
Some people, meditate as a regular and key part of their spiritual practice. For others, motivation can be more practical amidst a busy life in a secular world. Top 10 reasons to meditate? Not necessarily in order of Importance or usage…
Stress Reduction
Meditation is scientifically proven to reduce stress levels and improve overall health. How? Regular practice allows our whole system to regain its balance, like hitting the refresh button. This regained balance helps reduce the likelihood of developing any chronic, degenerative disease such as cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure. See the research summarized on our Allevi8 website.
Meditation supports and strengthens the body's overall immune response.
Research has proven this and has also shown people who meditation regularly take far fewer sick days.
Increased energy
Take away stress and we take away wasted energy. It is tiring to be filled with physical or inner tension. Meditate and feel more alive, more energetic. Meditate and feel more interest in, and enthusiasm for life, even during challenging and stressful periods.
Less affect from aging
Still more research shows people who meditate regularly actually age more slowly. The figure is quoted that regular meditators are actually around 15 years younger physiologically, as compared to their chronological age!
Relaxation
Meditation, particularly when it starts with a deliberate focus upon physical relaxation, leads to a deep sense of inner peace, calm and clarity. When we are relaxed, our body will be healthier, we see things more clearly, and we are much more likely to make good decisions and therefore have a better, healthier and more satisfying life.
Better Relationships, Increased Understanding
When we are relaxed in body and mind, we also can be more open with others; less defensive, more capable of maintaining healthy boundaries, more loving, compassionate and empathetic. No wonder, many psychologists now recommend meditation as a powerful adjunct when helping their clients. No wonder schools and businesses are supporting meditation; it makes people easier to get on with, to become nicer people. Meditation also helps us to go beyond learned behaviours, biases and opinions in order to better understand other people’s viewpoints without anger or agitation.
Improved Concentration
Phones, computers, the pace of daily life – so many potential distractions…
No wonder so many struggle with their ability to concentrate.
Meditation helps us to learn – or re-learn - how to concentrate, to be clearer about what to concentrate upon, and then to actually do it – concentrate!
Improved Intuition
As we meditate more and the mind settles, we see things more clearly and we can access our own inner wisdom. When we are busy all the time there is so much inner noise. We can lose touch with who we really are and what is most important to us. Regular meditation helps us connect with that deep, still inner voice known as intuition, and by hearing and listening to that intuition, we are highly likely to make better and more effective decisions about our lives and its possibilities.
Improved Performance
With a clearer mind, more relaxed body, enhanced ability to make good decisions, focus and follow through, the reality is meditation enhances pretty well anything we do. As well as improving relationships, meditation is being used, and research shows it does have real benefit in sport, education, business; most things we human beings get involved with…
Getting to know the real me
Traditionally, meditation has been at the heart of spiritual practice in all the great religious traditions.
These days, whether in a religious tradition or not, many recognize how meditation gives us the techniques to explore and gain personally satisfying answers to the 3 big questions of life:
Who am I?
What is life? (as in what is its meaning)
Where am I going? (after I die).
Thousands of years of experience tells us meditation delivers on this promise…
Conclusion
Just do it!
RESOURCES
BOOK
My most recent meditation book, Blue Sky Mind, will be useful for beginners and the experienced alike.
APP
Allevi8 has all the key practices to support a regular and effective meditation practice. The basic Allevi8 app is free with a pay it forward option, while you can pay a modest subscription and receive personal mentoring/ teaching from highly trained and experienced meditation teachers online.
DOWNLOADS
If you are still old school, my website iangawler.com has downloads available...
ENJOY :)