Do you feel stressed at work, at home, or in relationships? Did you know that stress is the leading cause of high blood pressure, heart disease, insomnia, and chronic health problems? There is a stress buster. It is meditation. There are four health benefits of regular meditation.
Do you meditate regularly? If you do, congratulations. If not, I urge you to consider starting a daily practice. Your health and well-being will improve, and you will have more patience, clarity, and solutions for your everyday problems.
Meditation is a practice that involves training your mind to focus, and it's becoming quite popular these days. You've probably read articles about it, heard about celebrities who swear by it or even know people in your everyday circles who praise it. It's used for a variety of reasons. Some feel it helps them to feel calmer when life is particularly hectic.
Others want to reduce their overall stress or to improve their sleep and feel meditation could help. You may have heard that meditation can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. All of these things are true.
Let's examine them, along with other benefits of regular meditation, to see what the fuss is about and to help you determine whether meditation seems like a practice you wish to incorporate into your life.
Stress Buster
Reducing stress is one of the most sought-after benefits of meditation. In today's world, there's a lot to worry about. Sitting quietly to relax and focus your thoughts seems worthwhile for finding a calm moment, but science shows this practice works to lower stress levels.
A hormone called cortisol is released into our bodies when we're physically and emotionally stressed, and it can wreak havoc on us. The release of cortisol stimulates the production of chemicals known as cytokines that promote inflammation. These chemicals also contribute to higher blood pressure, increased fatigue, and brain fog, along with added symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Studies have demonstrated that meditation reduces these chemicals, in turn lessening overall feelings of stress in participants.
Better Emotional Well-Being
If you deal with anxiety or depression, meditation could be a tool to improve your overall sense of emotional health. One scientific study looked at the electrical activity in the brains of participants who practiced meditation and those who didn't. The researchers discovered a significant change in the areas of the brain responsible for optimism and positive thinking in those who meditated.
In another study involving individuals suffering from depression, 18 people were asked to practice meditation for three years. This work determined that the participants experienced decreases in their depression that proved to be long-lasting and significant.
Improved Sleep
Many of us struggle with restless sleep or insomnia. It's a chronic issue that affects you in so many ways. Lack of sleep makes us less alert, clouds our thinking, and harms our physical health. In one research study, participants were placed in two groups.
The first group was instructed to meditate, while the other was not. I bet you can guess which group slept better and for more extended periods. Yep, it was the one that practiced meditation.
Meditating helps you sleep better because you learn to control those racing thoughts that keep so many of us awake for hours after our heads hit the pillow. It also aids in overall relaxation.
Decreased Blood Pressure
Meditation has been shown to reduce strain on the heart. Studies have shown that meditating can help reduce tension in the blood vessels and relax the nerve signals that control heart function, lowering blood pressure. It also lessens the fight-or-flight response, which contributes to high stress levels and affects blood pressure.
These are just four of the many health and emotional benefits of meditation. There are numerous others. Your regular practice of meditating helps you identify specific benefits.
I am teaching an Intentional Meditation course to give you the tools to reduce stress, keep your mind clear, bolster your personal growth, and boost your well-being. Let me know if you are interested.
Nancy Dadami is an Inner Peace Strategist, Intentional Creativity Guide, and Medicine Painting Mentor. She helps empower leaders, visionaries, creators, and entrepreneurs called to growth, learning, service, and freedom so they can thrive by living the best version of themselves, creating a life of abundance, self-awareness, purpose, and inner peace. Linktr.ee/nancydadami
