There were countless of times where I got extremely anxious and went into panic mode, because I was dealing with high-stress situations (running a business, dealing with difficult people, etc.) and I’d always end up having a breakdown.
Ugh. Worst moments ever. Sometimes I just couldn’t handle things, that I would lash out and go into full self-destructive mode.
Luckily, I discovered something I can do which is so simple yet so freaking effective in keeping my shit together – meditation.
Ever since incorporating meditation in my daily life, I saw amazing results: I became happier, calmer, more peaceful, and more in control of my emotions. I also became more productive in business and life.
Here are some other good benefits of meditation:
– Fights depression, anxiety and stress
– Increases positive feelings
– Enhances self-awareness
– Promotes emotional health
– Lengthens attention span
– Strengthens your memory
– Helps fight addictions
– Helps achieve inner peace and calm
– Helps you gain emotional control
– Changes brain matter
Who would’ve thought that simply breathing in and out deeply could give you so much benefits? No wonder the likes of Oprah, Steve Jobs, Deepak Chopra, Arianna Huffington, Tim Ferris and many other phenomenal people practice this thing daily.
I love meditation big time because I learned that it’s one media to communicate with the divine. I pray to speak to the universe, while I meditate to hear and access the higher voice louder.
Meditation also helped me get through my addictions. Every once in a while, I could get to an addictive state (food and binge-watching are my most common addictions), and whenever I felt that I’m entering such state, I would simply start clearing my head, and breathe in and out. I made meditation my new addiction and I think it’s the best addiction out there.
Meditation also serves as my fuel. Whenever I get so stressed with work and life problems, I’d simply meditate and I’ll enter a state of calm and fullness. Whenever I feel the need to get angry and lash out at people, I’d simply pause and start to deeply breathe in and out. And when I had to make hard decisions, and I can feel that my emotions are getting in the way, I’d find a quiet place and start going into zen mode.
Meditation might be simple, but it’s not as hell near easy especially if your normal mental state is chaotic and this is very new to you. If you want to experience the benefits of meditation, but you feel like it’s too hard to incorporate it in your life, here are some of the ways to make it as a normal part of your daily life:
Set an intention to meditate everyday for an entire month.
If you really wanna normalize meditation, make it a top priority in the first few months, just like you’d do in any goals. Start by setting a time and place where you plan to do this sacred activity for 30 consecutive days, so it would be easy for you to commit to making it a routine.
Expect that the first months will be excruciatingly painful, so be kind to yourself.
At first, you will experience a huge energy of resistance from meditating.
The first few months of me trying to meditate were full of frustration. I would get frustrated with myself for not having the discipline, but really, it’s normal that you can’t master this thing overnight. Once I started practicing self-compassion, I was able to move forward.
So be easy on yourself, and expect that it’s gonna be a little hard. Be proud, because you’re still gonna do it anyway.
Just show up and start small.
At first, don’t be so focused on the length of time you can meditate. Focus on being able to show up instead, and meditate however long you can. It’s all about making the habit of showing up, because the meditating will be easier then.
Don’t be frustrated if you can’t finish a 30 minute meditation at your first try. You can start meditating for 30 seconds. Then go up to a minute. Then 3 mins. Then 5 mins. Then 10 mins. Until you can effortlessly meditate however long you can.
Use meditation apps.
Using meditation apps is best if you’re a newbie because they guide you on how to breathe and relax. There are so many available apps on Playstore/App Store you could try. Personally, I recommend the apps Headspace or Calm.
Be patient. Don’t rush it.
You will not be a good meditator overnight. Meditation is a practice. In fact, it took me years (because I was very impatient and I’d give up due to frustration over and over) before I was able to effortlessly practice meditation now.
But you definitely could do better than me if you follow all these tips here, so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.
Don’t give up.
There might be instances where you’ll be tempted to give up. Don’t. If you ever feel this, just take a break, but tell yourself that you’re gonna try again.
And the last tip is to don’t complicate it. You can do meditation whenever you like. You can meditate while bathing, pooping, commuting, waiting for something, taking a break from work (especially if you’re doing frustrating work), and any random moments in your day. Just breathe and you’ll see a massive shift in your well-being.
Are you going to try meditation too? Tell me your thoughts!
