Transcript
Hi, in this lesson, we’ll explore some of the powerful benefits of meditation. Let’s dive in!
Meditation gives you greater mental stability.
The consistent practice of focus, attempting to hold our awareness on a single object, helps stabilize the mind. A more stable mind is less reactive.
We begin to understand that not every thought is worth following, nor does every emotion necessitate an outburst. The ability to observe our thoughts and emotions without the compulsion to act upon them is a mark of wisdom and self-compassion.
Meditation gives you greater clarity.
Just as sentiment clears from water that is undisturbed by wind, a more stable mind is a clearer mind. By stabilizing the mind in meditation, we’re able to better discern between what is worthy of our attention and what is not.
We can more clearly see the difference between what is actually happening and the judgments, perspectives, and biases that cloud our perception.
Meditation gives you less rumination.
Ruminative thinking disturbs our peace and exacerbates anxiety and depression. A regular meditation practice helps reduce ruminative thinking by helping us view thoughts as the movement of the mind, versus something that needs doing. Cultivating different aspects of attention helps us learn to let go of unhelpful thoughts.
Meditation gives you fewer negative thoughts.
Meditation improves our ability to take on new and differing perspectives. This process minimizes negative thinking and can help the mind lean more toward joy and gratitude. Going beyond black-and-white thinking to make space for ambiguity and paradox also has a calming effect.
Meditation improves your resilience.
Resilience is a measure of our ability to return to baseline when thrown off-balance by stress, pain, or discomfort. Meditation improves resilience to stress, a benefit that can be applied to chronic pain, emotions, or any stimulation that dysregulates the nervous system.
Meditation strengthened your self-compassion.
Mindfulness meditation helps cultivate more beneficial states of mind, such as self-compassion, empathy, gratitude, patience, and kindness. Researchers hypothesize the cultivation of such virtues is a key reason why meditators report feeling happier.
Meditation gives you enhanced moral behavior.
Those who practice mindfulness tend to behave more ethically. Meditators also exhibit more prosocial behaviors. Heightened self-awareness helps us more clearly see the link between our actions and their consequences. As we become aware of the interconnectedness of all things, we choose to behave in more beneficial ways, leading to less harm and fewer regrets.
Many of the benefits of meditation are available to us right away, while others are reserved for long-term meditators, or grow stronger with time.
This is one very good reason to maintain a consistent practice. Once we find a style of meditation that works well for us, it’s to our benefit to practicing every day.
