What Are the Reasons to Meditate?

“Why Should I Meditate?”

That is a very understandable and common question that many who initially delve into practicing meditation rightfully ask. Answering this question depends entirely on the perspective we want to look at it from. So, let’s explore the various motivations one could use to justify integrating meditation as a regular practice into their life.

Physiological Reason

It is no secret by now that meditation impacts our health and well-being. But what is most exciting is the recent discovery by academics and scientists that regular meditation leads to changes in our physiological structure.

To begin with, meditating on a regular basis has been proven to change the physical structure of our brain. This has been demonstrated by Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School, who has conducted studies on the impact of meditation on brain structure. Her research has shown that regular meditation can lead to increased grey matter density in various parts of the brain, including areas responsible for memory, learning, and self-awareness. The studies also suggest that meditation may slow down the brain aging process and improve cognitive function.

Psychological Reason

Meditation can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. By learning how to detach from thoughts and become more aware of when they take over, meditation gives the practitioner more control, allowing them to remain in the present moment always.

Furthermore, meditation helps control one’s impulses for anger, hunger, and “hanger!” Psychologically, meditation helps one regain control of their thoughts and emotions. In most cases, when a person is either depressed, enraged, or anxious, their thoughts send them to a dark place, which soon results in the person’s identity ostensibly being embedded in their thoughts. By this point, the sufferer may not know how to differentiate between what is real and what is exaggerated; between what is destructive and what is productive. The person loses control, and the thoughts navigate his or her emotions (and actions) to an undesirable place without an option of pressing the brakes.

This is almost tantamount to having a dream, where the dreamer is unaware they’re in a dream despite how unrealistic things are. They have no control over the outcome and have to withstand whatever the dream has given them — either good or bad — until it’s over. When you adopt meditation as a regular practice, you go from being stuck in a dream devoid of control to experiencing lucid dreaming. Suddenly, you’re aware of every action and can more easily discern what is right and wrong, what is logical and illogical, what is toxic and harmless. You know when to stop and how to stop it.

It’s as simple as that — Meditation gives you control over your thoughts and teaches you to witness your thoughts from a place of objectivity, as opposed to immersing yourself into them and allowing them to determine your perception of yourself or, worse, your identity.

Moreover, just to throw it in there (since we’re on the topic of psychological effects), meditation helps enhance focus, sharpen attention, and unlock creativity, and the list goes on!

Spiritual Reason

Even though some of you may claim to not be religious, there is no doubt that meditation helps those who practice it regularly experience what many may liken to a spiritual experience.

Some historians speculate that the practice of meditation was formed thousands of years prior to religion becoming a structural part of our existence. It is hypothesized that our earliest ancestors discovered meditation in the form of fire-gazing over 100,000 years ago. Through this practice, their brains may have started to rewire, and many ideas would have formed to create the stories that would have ultimately inspired religion.

This does not surprise me, to say the least. From personal experience, meditating daily (in my case, 45 minutes to 1 hour a day) has brought me closer to my higher self (spiritually speaking). I feel closer to God (I’m not religious, by the way — there’s a difference), and I have become more intuitive and connected to the energies around me. Ultimately, spirituality is a personal experience and cannot be defined in one way.

I do feel more connected spiritually to nature, to the animals I interact with, and to my fellow humans. Life is just so much more beautiful when you’re open to connect. When you’re more open to connect to your surroundings, you can pave your own unique path to spiritual fulfillment.

Personal Path

Fundamentally, at its core, meditation is a personal growth experience. It helps us discover more about ourselves and empowers us to pursue our dreams and passions by understanding our minds better.

If you’re feeling lost, meditation can help you regain a sense of control by strengthening your cognitive skills and defragmenting your mind so that you’re better equipped to organize and prioritize tasks that may propel you to progress.

Depending on what meditation you decide to perform, you can enhance certain skills and enrich your talents. Meditation empowers you to take action. It encourages you to shake off bad habits that may cause procrastination, and by garnering a greater sense of self-belief, you’re more likely to take action and seek to grow. And ultimately, that is what meditation is all about — growth.

The ethos of meditation encompasses various principles that guide its practice. Meditation offers peace, concentration, and self-awareness, which fuels the practitioner’s more ambitious and determined side. Possessing these qualities is set to bring out the best in a person. Concentration results in focus. Self-awareness results in growth. Peace results in happiness.

Ultimately, the practice of meditation creates a more aligned mindset, which offers a more navigable path toward whichever goals you’ve been yearning to reach.

What Now?

With so many apps, websites, and videos available online, it has never been easier to integrate meditation into your life. Do your research, find a style that best resonates with you, and most importantly, enjoy the journey!

If you’re looking for a more personalised approach, we offer 1 on 1 coaching and many more ways to help you or your team grow.

Here’s a link to some of my beginner meditations, which is a great way to start. You can also watch some of my YouTube videos, from which I answer common questions relating to meditation.

Enjoy your mindful journey!

Much love.