Why should you meditate?
People often ask me why I choose to spend time each day sitting quietly. In our world, taking time to do something so seemingly unproductive can look like a waste of valuable time. The magical thing about meditation is that, by practicing even 10–20 minutes a day, every moment in your daily life becomes deeper, more vivid, more fulfilling, and less stressful. You suddenly feel less overwhelmed by the challenges you face on a daily basis and more ready to stay in the moment and eliminate obstacles as they present themselves.
How much of our mental capacity is wasted worrying about the past or things that may happen in the future? By learning to focus on the present moment through meditation, we are able to free up all of that time and energy, and everything suddenly seems more spacious and less stressful. The only real thing is this moment. The past can no longer be experienced, and the future is only a concept. Therefore, why waste any more time thinking about things that were never real?
Meditation teaches you to flow with the river of change that is life. By paying careful attention to each passing moment, we can begin to see the subtle changes that are taking place on a continuous basis. Through this practice, we begin to see the futility in clinging to the way things used to be, the way things are, and even the way things ought to be.
Going beyond the materialistic benefits
At the surface, meditation has many practical benefits: reduced stress, more compassion, it can even help with depression. However, to me, the true benefits are rarely discussed. This practice goes as deep as you’re willing to take it. One of my favorite methods of meditation is called self-enquiry and is the simple practice of asking yourself “Who am I?”. The point isn’t to answer the question, but rather to let it become the focal point of your attention. You soon begin to realize that everything you identify as “I” is merely a set of ever-changing concepts, beliefs, and thoughts. This is commonly called the ego, or “I-thought”. Living from this vantage point, our sense of self, individuality, and separateness is formed. However, if we see the unreality of this ego, there is nothing left to separate us. Practicing and realizing this truth for yourself can lead to unfathomable joy, peace, and bliss. When you see that you are everything, then nothing can make you unhappy.
Have you ever had a moment in your life of complete stillness and clarity? Some people find it in creating art, others in exercise. What causes this? It is the absence of thought. When you’re in flow, things seem to just be happening on their own and don’t require thoughts. Meditation allows us to tap into that stillness, that thoughtless state, whenever we want. Eventually, that state becomes the baseline and peace begins to permeate the mundane, everyday occurrences that once left you stressed and feeling drained.
Try it yourself. Begin to sit for just 10 minutes a day in silence, observing your thoughts, feelings, desires, and bodily sensations without judgement. If you’re having trouble sticking to it, I encourage you to visit our facebook group to find a community of like-minded individuals who are happy to support you through your journey.
