Why meditate?

I was drained. I had been trying to be the savior to a man addicted to drugs, and I was distraught. Work felt like an endless loop of drudgery. It seemed like I was gaining weight by the second, and yet, nothing was filling me up.

Then I started to meditate. It was the beginning of a much-needed transformation, and it is a continual benefit to me.

If you’ve been thinking about meditating – new to it or restarting your practice, here are some of the great benefits of doing so.

Quiets the Mind

We have a constant flow of information bombarding our brains, and sometimes we need a break from the chatter. Even if your mind is not a blank slate when you meditate, and you are not 100% thought-free, meditation causes a release from other people’s ideas, thoughts that do you no good, and the freedom from unconscious data sticking around in your head.

Gives You Energy

Now, I know a lot of you may be thinking, “Every time I try and meditate, I fall asleep!” Yes, that can happen, especially when you are first starting and lie down to meditate. But I bet you feel refreshed after you wake up. Meditation recharges the body and mind. Just like you need the darkness of the moon to reinvigorate you in the light of the sun, internalization and reflection are as important as action. Going inside yourself during meditation gives you more energy out in the world.

Clarity

The more you meditate, the more you will get to know yourself and know what is in flow for you. This will help you make decisions. Your body is a great barometer for your brightest path, and you will be able to listen to your body talk more clearly. When you do, doors open for you that lead you to your desires.

Be Inspired

With clarity, comes inspiration. When you meditate, space will be cleared for inspiration to come in. We are given signs all the time, and we don’t realize they’re there, or we choose to ignore them. However, meditation clears the way for you to allow inspiration to come in. Often, you will have an inspired idea right after you come out of meditation, later that day, or right when you get up. Meditation trains you to be aware. 

And with awareness, comes the ability to be calm in situations that would have irritated you before. You are more empathetic, less judgmental. That is freedom.