My top 16 benefits of a daily meditation practice
Most people experience some distinct shifts soon after beginning their Vedic meditation practice, but with a little time, the changes become so automatic, and so natural, that we begin to totally embody a new way of being, often forgetting what life was like before. It’s a valuable exercise to spend some time contemplating all the shifts and changes that have taken place. It helps us see how far we’ve come, how worth it it was to get in the chair and meditate every day. I thought I’d share some of the benefits I personally have enjoyed through my practice.
1
Significant shifts in anxiety, but not only that, a new perception on how to handle moments of “stress” or “anxiety” when they do arise. Meditation gave me the ability to witness what I am feeling in any given moment. Creating this witness capacity allows me to dis-identify from the emotions and feelings, and to observe them as they move through, rather than be entirely consumed by them. This creates a separation from them – I came to understand that thoughts, feelings and emotions are experiences we have inside, but they are not definitive and don’t need to hold quite so much power.
2
Further to the above, when I do experience waves of strong survival emotions (I prefer this term over negative emotions), I bounce back quicker, and my perspective is restored much sooner. I can see the emotions for what they are: energy in motion. Emotions are designed to move, to travel in order to be processed. So when they come up, and I realise what’s taking place, I can relax into them and allow them to move through. Certainly not always a comfortable or gratifying experience, but one that allows me to heal faster and find perspective sooner.
3
I’ve sharpened my clarity and ability to think laterally as well as logically. I can map out a to-do list or set of priorities with ease and little overwhelm and know which step to take next. I don’t experience indecision and lack of direction and can come at challenges with a wide perspective.
4
I’ve become much more compassionate towards myself. I don’t beat myself up quite so much these days and treat myself more like a friend. I am gentle with myself on tough days and my inner dialogue tends to look more at all the positives about myself than the negatives. Some days I fall into old loops and stories, but can bring myself back to the truth that we’re all a big glorious work in progress.
5
I’ve become much more compassionate of others. When I observe a fellow human acting in less evolutionary ways, I know that their behaviour comes from their own unresolved pain and stress. I don’t believe anyone on this earth is inherently evil (a big statement, I know). I believe everyone has a spark of the divine in them, and the capacity for change. I also know what it’s like to be at the mercy of your mind and feelings, and how this makes us act in certain ways. Being able to trace this when someone acts poorly towards me means not only do I not take on that energy, but I can remain level-headed and gently propel the interaction into a better direction.
6
I’ve become waaaaay less controlling and critical of others. This is a big one for me, with a strong Virgo nature. Meditation’s helped me see that just because someone does something differently to me, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong or bad. It’s shown me that peace, unity and compassion in relationships is far more valuable than getting my way or making someone into something they’re not.
7
I react less and respond more. Meditation helps us to observe our experience more, and viewing life from this standpoint means we can see clearer, and therefore have more control over how we respond. Instead of reacting out of old habits, beliefs or mental stories, it’s almost like I get a fraction of a second to decide how I want to respond. A tiny gap or window that gives me the power to choose.
8
I am much more connected to my body and can pick up on its subtle cues and hints. I can tune in and read the signals as to what it might be asking for. I’m much more attuned to the way my body changes throughout my period and can adjust my actions to support it. I can feel the slightest tingling of a cold or sore throat and nip it in the bud before it takes hold. I can read the signs that tell me when I need to drink more water, when I’m genuinely hungry or when I’m actually just bored or looking for comfort.
9
I feel a general sense of ease in my life. Even with all that I’m still working on in myself, there is an over-arching feeling of ease and peace with it all. Even when my mind gets tangled up on whether something will work out, there is always a small seed within of underlying knowingness of, “everything’s all good”.
10
My physical immunity has improved dramatically. I very, very rarely get sick, and if I do notice the signs of a cold, it almost always passes without becoming a full-blown sickness. I attribute this to how much meditation heals our nervous system from the wear and tear of stress, as well as a more refined state of being that means we get less stressed in the first place!
11
I seek less from the external world for my own happiness and fulfillment. I still enjoy all of the earthly pleasures, and I enjoy them whole-heartedly, but I can do so without needing them to make me happy. Happiness is an inside job, and I’ve learned that nothing outside of you can ever offer true, lasting happiness.
12
I’ve gained clarity on what truly matters to me. I can tune in and ask myself, “does this feel right?” and can then act or let go accordingly.
13
I am much more unapologetically myself. This is admittedly still a work in process for me, but I have come a long way. Getting to know who I am, all the things about me that make me unique and wonderful, and then standing in that and not wavering to pressures or expectations of being any different.
14
I’m less hung up on the ideas of time and getting everything done. I used to worry that time would run out, or that there were all sorts of limits and rules around what I had to accomplish and by when. These days, I live much more in the now, and I’ve dissolved many of the rigid ideas and expectations I’d acquired around what success looks like and the path to achieving it.
15
My subtle perception and intuition has sharpened greatly. I notice tiny, beautiful details in everything from the way a petal curves on a flower to the timbre of my little brother’s laugh. I can also sense, on a deeper level, the energy in a room, or how a person might really be feeling. This allows me to effortlessly attune to the moment and show up to give my energy in the most relevant, expansive way.
16
I feel a deeper sense of connection to the divine aspect of Nature, or the Universe. I can see the deeper underlying unity of all things, that we are never really separate or alone. Within every single thing, from a thought to a flower to a loved one is a spark of the divine, a kernal of timeless, unchanging, eternal, perfect, expansiveness. Despite all our beautiful multiplicity, the difference that surround us on this relative place, underneath it all is the same one whole: unbounded pure consciousness. The source of all love, creativity, joy and freedom.