If you want to live more mindfully, recent research suggests that you can benefit a lot by starting to meditate. Daily meditation has been proven to alleviate anxiety and help you feel more centered. But as with any new habit, getting started and sticking to your practice can be challenging. Have you ever found yourself succumbing to excuses like; “I don’t have the time”, “It’s boring”, or “I can’t sit still”? Let’s jump-start your practice by getting you motivated to give it another shot! Here are 4 reasons why you should start meditating today:
#1 It helps you stay calm in times of stress Properly managing stress allows your brain to work better! When we’re stuck in a fight or flight response, our brains are too busy reacting to crises- real or imaginary- to function optimally. People who begin to meditate exhibit changes in the brain including the shrinking of the amygdala, a region of the brain associated with fear, anxiety, and aggression. When practiced daily, meditation can help calm the nervous system, balancing stress hormones, heart rate, and blood pressure, and help you to feel more centered and grounded.
#2 It improves your decision-making skills You’ve probably heard someone say, “I’m more of a left-brain thinker, I’m not very creative” or, “I think more with my right brain.” Many people fall into patterns of thinking and feeling that may cause figurative or even literal imbalance in the brain. Meditation helps to create a kind of harmony between the left and right brains called “whole-brain synchronization”. Rather than relying solely on one style of cognition when facing challenges, this whole-brain synchronization is said to help you better handle stressful situations and make healthier choices. Meditate for enhanced cognitive performance, better memory and more brain power!
#3 it makes you a better athlete! We all know the power of a positive mindset, and this is especially true when it comes to improving your athletic ability. Meditation can be a valuable tool to help you develop mastery over your physical body. It gives you the courage and confidence to keep pushing during a challenging workout, as well as the awareness to know when you take a rest. Meditation can also help athletes manage their thoughts and emotions during competition, leading to better results. In addition, those who meditate have been shown to have higher quality sleep, which means faster recovery. Meditate well to unlock your body’s optimal potential!
#4 It helps you reconnect you with your true purpose Motivational Writer and Success Coach Jen Sincero says “The walls of your comfort zone are decorated with your lifelong collection of favorite excuses”. Many people don’t even notice the familiar subconscious beliefs getting in the way of their dreams. By taking time to meditate, you can look deeper than the day-to-day thoughts and emotions. This is essential when you want to stay connected to your true purpose.
Body & Brain founder and renowned meditation educator Ilchi Lee calls this “Taking back your brain”. Through meditation, you will be able to recover a sense of what you really want rather than what your small desires, attachments, and fears want. If you’re interested in experiencing more about reconnecting with your life purpose, Body & Brain offers a Finding True Self workshop that can help you reconnect with yourself.
Hopefully, these simple tips have given you a little more motivation to get going with your own meditation practice. Set aside 5-10 minutes, eliminate any distractions or excuses, and just do it! Once you get the ball rolling, it will be easier to keep going with this beneficial mindfulness practice!