10 Exciting Benefits of Meditation

Have no fear, meditation is likely not at all what you may have perceived it to be all these years.

It is not a religious or spiritual act. It is not some goofy habit for the eclectic. It is not about being able to think about nothing…an impossible feat just to be clear.

Meditation, however, can, and will, provide a myriad of benefits for those who make the decision to stick to the routine and allow for the practice to take effect.

To be clear, meditation is not an overnight success. Like almost anything in life, it takes repetition. It takes effort. It takes dedication.

If you are willing to put 10-14 days of consistent effort into the 10-minute daily practice, we feel confident you will appreciate most, if not all, of the below benefits. 

Now find some quiet time and read these 10 encouraging benefits of mediation…

Encourages a Healthier Lifestyle

Making meditation a part of your daily routine can provide, almost immediately, and increased overall sense of calm, peace and balance that will benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.

The better, more peaceful one typically feels, the more in touch with their wellness, and in turn, the more desire they will usually have to improve it even further.

Those who meditate are almost always healthier overall than those who do not. They really do seem to go hand-in-hand.

Improves Mental Clarity

The longer you practice mediation, the more clearer you think. This might sound like quite the claim, but we are not only speaking from personal experience, but the scientific data as well. 

We unfortunately live in a time of “lost focus” and anything that can help improve mental clarity should be a tool we put to use.

Meditation will improve your ability to focus.

Increases Energy Levels

Better mental clarity and better moods, as well as, an improved overall physiology, will absolutely lead to increases in energy levels. 

Let’s be honest, our energy levels ebb and flow constantly, but more often than not they are effected by our moods.

The better we feel, the more excited we are, at any moment, the higher our energy levels. The more we dread moments in time, the more energy seems to be sucked out of us.

Using meditation consistently will lead to more happier moments and thus greater energy levels.

Minimizes Anxiety

The truth is, the goal of reducing anxiety is the most common reason people decide to give meditation a try. 

We already know that mental and physical stress cause increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol and a bunch of negative effects that nobody wants.

What is now becoming much more clear is the role meditation plays on reducing stress levels. A good enough reason to set aside 10 minutes per day.

And good news, studies continue to show that prolonged, dedicated meditation practice can reduce stress levels significantly. 

Reduces Pain

You may not realize this but your perception of pain is actually greatly connected to your state of mind.

In other words, the more stressful of conditions, the more elevated the perception of pain. The more calm or controlled the conditions, the lessened the perception of pain.

Research suggests that meditation can be beneficial for controlling pain.

To be clear, this is not meant to imply that meditation will eliminate pain by any means. Instead the research has simply shown those who meditate appear to have a greater ability to cope with pain and potentially even experienced reduced sensations of pain.

We don't know about you but since the majority of the people we associate with do not actually enjoy pain, this potential meditation benefit could be very widely appreciated.

Enhances Self Awareness

Without sounding too corny, there is some proof that some forms of meditation may help you develop a stronger understanding of yourself, your feelings, your emotions, etc.

Whether you would love to have greater self-control or better personal interactions with others, there is definitely enough research to show that gaining greater awareness of your habits, thoughts, self-talk, etc. allows you to more proactively steer them in more beneficial ways and thus, be less reactive.

As an added benefit, some research suggest that mediation can enhance one’s problem-solving skills as well.

Encourages Better Sleep

Since we know that nearly half of the US population will suffer from insomnia at some point throughout the course of their lives, it goes without saying that any assistance with sleep patterns that meditation can provide should be welcome.

Meditation will not only increase the peacefulness that one feels but should also assist in controlling thoughts. 

When you consider that many sleep related issues will revolve around tension or worry caused by over thinking, better thought control should, in turn, lead to better rest.

Slows Aging

By now it is quite clear, as goes the body, so goes the mind…and vice versa. 

As we age, anything we can do to keep our mind and bodies active, improves the aging process.

Some studies show the repetition of some forms of meditation can actually improve performance on neuropsychological tests on those who suffer from age-related memory loss.

There is also some interesting data that shows at least partial improvements in memory in patients with dementia.

Decrease Blood Pressure

While many of the benefits of meditation are routinely associated with the mental aspect, there is also evidence that meditation will improve overall physical health by reducing strain on the heart.

By now pretty much everyone knows that high blood pressure, makes the heart work harder and ultimately leads to poor heart function. Nobody wants this!

Studies have shown that meditation appears to control blood pressure by relaxing the nerve signals that coordinate heart function, blood vessel tension, and the “fight-or-flight” response that increases alertness in stressful situations.

Again, beneficial effects of what would likely be a more peaceful life.

Makes you Happier

Until you have made mediation a routine part of your life, you might think this last benefit sounds a bit silly, but trust us when we say, there is absolutely an association between the two.

It might sound like a bit of common sense now, after all the above noted benefits, but the truth is, the more you can calm the mind, the more peaceful you will feel.

And, everyone knows, more peace leads to greater happiness. 

Meditation Makes a Difference

There is absolutely no question, daily meditation, as little as 10 minutes a day, over time, will make a noticeable difference, in a number of ways, on how you look, feel, and perform.

Remember, as we noted from the start, meditation takes practice. Do not allow yourself to get frustrated by some preconceived notions about where you should be, how fast, or how well.

In fact, we suggest you consider it like any other exercise, which means it will require a patient persistence to master.

And one final note…we nor anyone else, should be suggesting that meditation is a replacement for traditional medical treatment. Only your healthcare provider can make such statements, but we are positive it would prove to be a useful addition to anyone’s health and wellness plan.

If you have not already done so, we strongly recommend you give mediation a try.

Give the trial versions of apps like Calm or Headspace a try and see for yourself how differently you feel after just a single session.

Always Remember...

…we would love to hear your thoughts on this, or any other article we write, so please, drop us your comments, ideas, input, and suggestions in the comments below. 

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Now, onward! You only have one life to live, one body to live it in...so take care of it. Progress, not perfection. Good, better, best with your food intake and some form of "movement" daily. Get your nutritional foundation from food, supplement where necessary, and drink plenty of water.

And, don’t forget, always consult your physician before making any changes to your diet or exercise regiment.

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