Is Meditation Right for Me?
As wonderful as life can be, it can also be incredibly stressful. And stressful events can come from anywhere. Whether it involves having enough money to meet financial obligations, dealing with traffic during the commute to and from work, or coping with overbearing family members during the holidays, stress can consume us when we least expect it.
Stress affects us in a variety of ways. Surveys on this topic have uncovered some pretty disturbing statistics about stress:
- 33% of people feel they live with extreme stress
- 48% believe the stress in their lives has increased over the past five years
- 77% of people surveyed said they experience physical symptoms caused by stress
Physical symptoms of stress
Some of the common physical symptoms linked to chronic stress:
- Sleep problems
- Autoimmune diseases
- Digestive problems
- Skin conditions, such as eczema
- Heart disease
- Mild to moderate pain
- Weight problems
- Reproductive issues
- Concentration and memory issues
How meditation can help
There is now scientific evidence that meditation is effective against physical symptoms of stress such as IBS, high blood pressure, and ulcerative colitis. Meditation has been linked with improved immune response, reduction in pain sensitivity, and a shift from negativity to positivity. Further, research has shown that meditation may physically alter the brain and how we are able to cope with chronic stress.
But what exactly is meditation? Mindful meditation is simply the practice of harnessing our attention to quiet our busy minds. Instead of letting our minds run rampant and our thoughts go unchecked, mindfulness focuses our attention in the present moment.
Because mediation is so deceptively simple, many people either feel it can’t possibly work, or they won’t benefit from it. And because we live in a society that seems to promote instant gratification, other people expect that after their first 20 minutes of meditating, all of their problems will magically dissolve.
But meditation is called a “practice” for a reason. Like anything else that is beneficial to your mind and body like diet and exercise, it takes commitment to receive those benefits.
Tips for beginning meditation
If you are interested in trying meditation for yourself, here are a few key tips:
- Get comfortable – you don’t have to sit in the lotus pose. You can sit in a comfy chair or even lie down. The trick is to be comfortable enough that your body sensations don’t distract you, but not so comfortable that you fall asleep.
- Don’t try and control your breath, just breathe naturally, simply staying aware of your breath.
- Start with just a few minutes and build from there.
- Don’t try to be perfect. There is no perfection in life or meditation, so just keep practicing every day.
If you find after you’ve been meditating for a little while that you could use some extra help dealing with the stress in your life, please contact me. I’d be happy to explore treatment options and talk with you about other ways I may be able to help.