How Can Meditation Benefit Me?

is solely based on how much you want it to. It can simply be a tool for relaxation and stress relief, or it can be the way you find out who you truly are and what your purpose is in life. For those who are beginners and just starting to understand what it means to meditate and how to meditate, finding out who you are and what your purpose in life is may seem like a lofty goal. And that may be true…but remember, you are your only limitation.

The more you take time to appreciate the message of meditation (being present), the more you will recognize how much it can benefit you. Start with the simple things: focus on your breathing, which will help alleviate built up stress that causes your mind to race and, subsequently, affects your moods, sleep and over all quality of life. Allow yourself to embrace the now. Breathing will also help teach you to focus on what you are doing, versus the norm of focusing on what you need to do or what you’ve already done.

>>> Regret only exists in the past and fear only exists in the future <<<

If you are constantly worried, your body builds up stress and automatically places you in the “fight or flight” mode. In this mode, we naturally rely on instinct and quick reactions. This is an issue because this doesn’t allow us to take the time to truly think about a situation. Many people make bad decisions and/or overreact because they are in this state. In addition, in this state, emotions can get the better of us and truly affect our behavior irrationally and negatively. Furthermore, living in this accelerated state of being and high level of stress can be extremely taxing on your body, leading to poor health.

If you are present, you have the time to respond to a situation versus react. Because you are responding, you will be able to make logical, clear and more succinct decisions. Also, you will be in a calmer and more relaxed natural state, leading to these benefits:

• Provides a Sense of Peace and Balance 
• Reduces Feelings of Anxiety and Anger 
• Reduces Pain 
• Increases Blood Flow 
• Increases Energy 
• Helps Reverse Heart Disease 
• Helps Control Thoughts  (No, not other people’s thoughts, just your own.)
• Reduces Stress

Taking time to meditate every day sounds tough, but in reality, all you need is two minutes! Two minutes per day can make all the difference in the world for you. If you haven’t tried meditating yet or if you have and you feel like you don’t know what you are doing…don’t worry, that’s normal!

To get yourself started on meditation, read Meditation: 10 Tips for Beginners To Get You Started.