It is believed that calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is extremely important to stay calm amidst all the chaos that keeps going on around us. But is it easy in the fast-paced and raucous world we live in?
According to renowned Yogi and Guru Paramahansa Yogananda if you learn to be calm, you will always be happy. One of the ways we can practice calmness is through meditation, an ancient practice that dates back to thousands of years. Since time immemorial, meditation has been used to attain enlightenment. Wise ones have touted it as a means to get rid of misery.
This practice has been popular for ages worldwide because of its range of benefits to the brain health and overall well-being. With the help of modern technology, researchers continue to expand their understanding of how meditation helps people and why it is so effective. Experiences and modern research show that meditation is helpful for life goals as regular and diverse as overcoming a traumatic heartbreak to increasing daily productivity. Modern-day meditators call it the food for the soul and suggest that the practice can unlock doors to a better life.
Meditation is all about connecting with your soul. It is a practice that involves focusing or clearing your mind using a combination of mental and physical techniques.
You can meditate for various reasons – to relax, reduce anxiety and stress, to stay focused on the present moment and more. Some people even use meditation to help them improve their health and quit bad addictions like alcohol consumption, smoking or drug usage.
Types of meditation may include:
Guided meditation:
Sometimes called guided imagery or visualisation, with this method of meditation you form mental images of places or situations you find relaxing. You try to use as many senses as possible, such as smells, sights, sounds and textures. A guide or a trainer may lead you through this process.
Mantra-based meditation:
In this type of meditation, you silently repeat a calming word, thought or phrase to prevent distracting thoughts.
Mindfulness meditation:
This type of meditation is based on being mindful, or having an increased awareness and acceptance of living in the present moment. In mindfulness meditation, you broaden your conscious awareness. You focus on what you experience during meditation, such as the flow of your breath. You can observe your thoughts and emotions. But let them pass without judgment.
Any form of meditation requires deep concentration avoiding any forms of distraction around. In the world of gadgets, technology and social media platforms, the mind can wander in various directions.
Staying still and focusing on the present is the key to meditation. Once you attain that Zen mode or tranquil phase, then it becomes easier to reap the benefits of meditation.
People who meditate are more likely to see the following benefits:
• Improved ability to think, concentrate and solve problems
• Better able to adapt to and overcome emotional problems
• Improved sleep, metabolism, heart function and much more
• Helps in managing mental health
• Helps Overcome anxiety and depression
• Provides more energy & efficiency
• Improves focus, attention, and memory
• Helps in Healing and managing pain
• Benefits your overall health
• Improves relationships
• Teaches you to let go and be firm
• Reduces ageing
• Increases self-awareness
• Increases imagination and creativity.
How does meditation work?
Human brain has billions of neurons, which are cells that use electrical and chemical signals to send signals to each other. One neuron connects to thousands of others, which is how the neurons form networks across different parts of your brain. Those networks form different areas of brain, which have different jobs and specialties.
Multiple research studies have found that people who meditate regularly have certain differences in their brain structure and are healthier and less likely to show age-related loss of function. They also have a stronger ability to deal with and process negative emotions like fear, anger and grief.
To conclude, Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health. It can help you learn to stay centered and keep your inner peace. Hence, if you have not indulged in meditation so far, it may be time you try it for that much-needed sense of calmness.