5 Reasons I’d Go Crazy If Not For Meditation
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Okay, let’s get one thing straight, the world is upside down right now. Sure, we can pretend that everything is normal. But, I’m not gonna do that. Not on this blog. Instead I’m gonna tell you exactly why I have to meditate so that I don’t find myself in some kind of straitjacket.
Note to readers: That ain’t me in the photo because I don’t have time to take photos when I’m meditating that would totally be cap. Anyway, I digress.
Meditating aka mindfulness has emerged over the last couple of decades as a truly powerful tool to manage stress, enhance mental clarity and promote overall well-being.
Do you remember how back in the day people used to “Go Postal?” Well, since I heard of meditating, I don’t think people go "Postal” as much as they used to.
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What is Meditating?
Meditating is sitting your big body (or not big body) on the floor (I prefer a yoga mat) and taking a moment to listen to your breathing and calm your mind. You may not realize this, but your mind is racing with thoughts all the time. Like every second of every day.
Can you imagine leaving a car on all the time and never shutting it off?
Your brain needs a time to be shut off as well. For me, that’s what I use meditation for.
The video below is a meditation video that I use to help me meditate.
Now, back to the straitjacket… How did I get introduced to meditation?
There have been times in my life when I’ve been depressed, anxious, stressed out and frustrated. I don’t struggle like that as much anymore. But there were definitely times when I didn’t know how to manage my day to day life without feeling completely overwhelmed.
As a matter of fact, a long time ago, I was teaching an Introduction to Sociology class at a community college when one of my students, an older white woman, a couple decades my senior, gave me a book and said, “You need this.” I smiled at her. I thought I was having an apple on the desk moment until she gave me the receipt and told me that the book was $12.00.
Side eye.
Did this student just give me a book as a gift and charge me for it? Yes, she did. And not only that, when I looked at the cover the title was “Meditation for Beginners.” Man, I was like, “My student has completely lost her mind because I’m not beyond taking off a few points for being insulted.” These are big facts. Goodbye A, hello B-.
Anyway, I’m not one to ignore a word to the wise. So, I went home and started reading the book and told my hubby, “Can you believe this old white lady told me I need to meditate?”
My husband, smarter than a 5th grader, paused, carefully thinking about what he would say next, then said, “Is she still enrolled in your class?”
See, that’s why I loved that dude. He knew I was not beyond retaliating. Anyway, I thought about who I was at the time.
I was barely 25 teaching Sociology and Psychology to students who were twice my age. What part of my vibe said, “I need to calm down?”
I put that book away for at least 5 years. Probably used it as a coaster until I got so stressed out one day, I threw a lamp against a wall. Crying with tears rolling down both cheeks, I was mad at the world and didn't even know why. And so you know what I did then?
I started looking for that coaster and thought about that wise old lady that God sent into my class to tell me to meditate.
Fast forward, decades have passed, my husband along with them, and I meditate before I go to bed and on some days, I’ll meditate as soon as I get up. Meditation is like a salve on my brain. It makes my brain feel loved and cared for. Have you ever put ointment on a cut? And when you feel that ointment lather over it, you let out a sigh of relief. That’s how meditation makes you feel.
My Present Day and Meditating
I’m not as crazy when I’m meditating. No threats of straitjackets loom overhead. I’m a better me when I’m meditating aka being mindful. Without further adieu, here are my favorite 5 benefits of mindfulness:
1 —
Mental Health Benefits
Practicing mindfulness regularly can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by helping you break free from negative thought patterns. By focusing on the present moment, mindfulness allows people to step back from their worries about the past or future, fostering a sense of peace and calm.
Research has shown that mindfulness can alter the brain’s structure and function in ways that improve emotional regulation. For example, mindfulness practices like coloring and drawing have been associated with increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain involved in planning, decision-making, and emotional control.
And for everyone who thought that paragraph was too wordy, let me put it in simple speak for you.
MEDITATION WILL STOP YOU FROM GOING OFF ON EVERYONE YOU SEE.
No more honking at stop lights, no more ice grilling the cashier at the grocery store. No more walking through life with your fists balled getting ready to fight. I’m just saying.
2 —
Physical Health Benefits
Mindfulness is not just beneficial for mental health; it also has profound effects on physical health. By reducing stress, mindfulness can lower blood pressure, improve heart health, and boost the immune system.
Is your blood pressure high? Sitting on the floor can help you.
Furthermore, mindfulness can enhance the body’s ability to heal. I often soak in an Epsom Salt bath to help with my mindfulness.
You read that right, EPSOM SALT - It’s older than a dinosaur, but it works.
Studies have shown that individuals who practice mindfulness have faster recovery times from illness and surgery. This is partly because mindfulness reduces the production of stress hormones, which can impair the body’s healing processes.
Wanna fight chronic disease? Find you a nice spot on the floor and sit still for 15 minutes.
3 —
Improved Cognitive Function
Mindfulness has also been shown to enhance cognitive function, including attention, memory, and learning. By training the mind to focus on the present moment, mindfulness improves concentration and reduces distractions.
In other words, if you are starting to forget your words mid-sentence, forget where you put your keys every day, don’t know your name, half the time, you need to start meditating.
This increased focus can be particularly beneficial in today’s multitasking culture, where constant interruptions can hinder productivity and performance. I practice mindfulness by journaling in my workbook Start Your Day With A Win.
Yeah, I wrote a whole book to teach people how to start their day winning and being mindful is a huge part of that.
Research has demonstrated that mindfulness can increase gray matter density in the hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with learning and memory. This suggests that mindfulness not only helps individuals stay present but also enhances their ability to retain and process information.
Hello, if you’re not meditating, your brain is shrinking.
Moreover, mindfulness practices have been found to improve working memory, the ability to hold and manipulate information over short periods, which is crucial for problem-solving and decision-making.
I have to say this, Wanna be smarter? Meditate. Want other people to be smarter? Get them to meditate.
4 —
Enhanced Relationships
Mindfulness can also improve relationships by fostering greater empathy, compassion, and communication. When individuals practice mindfulness, they become more attuned to their own emotions and those of others.
Sometimes when something ridiculous happens at work, I think, “I need to meditate because I don’t wanna go Postal. This is an example of my meditation working.
This increased emotional awareness allows them to respond more thoughtfully and compassionately in social interactions, reducing conflicts and strengthening bonds.
Mindfulness can also enhance communication by promoting active listening. When individuals are fully present in a conversation, they are better able to understand and respond to the needs and perspectives of others.
How many times have you said to someone, “You don’t hear me? You’re not even listening?” Well, they probably need to meditate.
5 —
Increased Resilience and Coping Skills
Mindfulness equips individuals with the tools to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease and resilience. Mindfulness helps individuals accept difficult emotions and experiences without becoming overwhelmed.
This is super true for me. I conquer my challenges far easier because my resilience has gone up. Now, that doesn’t mean everything is easy. That would be a lie. But, I feel better about the things I am doing.
Mindfulness practices can build resilience by promoting a growth mindset. When individuals view challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, they are more likely to persevere in the face of setbacks.
In conclusion, a lot of people need to meditate so they’re not being stupid, irrational, stressed out, and causing their brain to lose size. The benefits of mindfulness are vast and multifaceted, encompassing improvements in mental and physical health, cognitive function, relationships, and resilience.
Now, I wrote this to make you laugh and to share information. I hope you can find humor in my jokes. But understand, meditation is no laughing matter. It can make your life better. And, not because I say so, but because it is so.
Some research for this story was provided by AI.