Meditation: Your Gateway to Fulfillment
Among all elements that can lead to a satisfying life, meditation stands out as a primary one, ranking even higher than love.
That's quite a statement, isn't it? You might wonder, how can this be possible? Higher than love? Well, because it is through meditation that we come to truly understand ourselves. How can we genuinely love another without recognizing and loving ourselves first?
Meditation lets us venture into the unknown territories of our consciousness. It enables us to discern our shadows with transparency and learn to embrace them; this understanding makes it easier to genuinely love and empathize with others. It opens a doorway to endless possibilities and nurtures an inner awareness that lets us construct our lives from within, as opposed to the usual outside-in approach.
Yet, not every form of meditation is created equal.
There exist various types of meditation, each serving a unique purpose. The benefits of meditation are proportional to our approach to it. Just like yoga poses, meditation can yield different outcomes based on our application.
Meditation can unintentionally cause discomfort and dissatisfaction, becoming another root of inadequacy if we use it solely to achieve specific outcomes. However, if we perceive it as a voyage of self-discovery and maintain curiosity, we often stumble upon astonishing discoveries. This process involves relinquishing our perceived control, fostering an expansive curiosity, and creating a space for exploration.
In my spiritual guidance practice, I've noticed that a substantial part of our lives involves managing levels of anxiety. This anxiety stems from the misconception that we can control or cannot control life's events. Regardless of our awareness levels, there's always a constant underlying sensation of threat that guides our lives. Meditation allows us to decelerate and realize that we are the ones generating this threat by choosing and consenting to perceive the world in a certain manner. Once we become conscious of this, we can make more informed choices and consider alternative perspectives.
Whether it's our relationships, careers, or the inevitable reality of mortality, we generally confront these with resistance. Meditation teaches us acceptance and demonstrates that it's possible to replace anxiety with love. It illustrates that while we can't control external events, we can cultivate a profound relationship with consistency within us. It encourages us to stop seeking external solutions like drugs, food, sex, shopping, exercise, etc., and instead quietens us to search for answers within our hearts.
How to meditate
Many of us start out feeling that meditation is hard, too hard. That's because it can be hard to know where Initially, many of us struggle with meditation, finding it overly challenging. This difficulty is often because we're unsure where to start. We mistakenly believe that meditation involves suppressing our thoughts (a notion also reflecting control and resistance). So we end up in a futile battle with each thought until we ultimately surrender. Meditation is less about evading our thoughts and more about connecting to something larger than our thoughts.
Did you know that you approximately have six types of recurring thoughts? They often revolve around Family, Work, Love, Money, Health, Activities, and Judgment, although not necessarily in that order.
So a typical "meditation" might unfold as follows:
"Ah... here I am, sitting with my mind. Ah, this is so peaceful. Peaceful... I thoroughly enjoyed that yoga class I just attended. The teacher was incredibly peaceful and so fit. I wish I was as fit as her. Shoot, wait, I'm thinking; I'm not supposed to be thinking. Okay, just stop thinking. Let me count my breaths 1, 2, 3,...
"My belly feels hungry. I wonder when this will be over. I wish I could see Joe after this for brunch. I bet he's with his friends now. I like him so much. I wonder if we'll marry. I should work a few more years before we marry and have kids. My mother would love it if we had kids right away. Shit, I'm totally thinking!!
I suck at this! I hate meditating..."
Of course, you feel this way! The mind is not designed to remain idle. It craves something to do. Connecting to the beauty and energy that you truly are will pull the mind into the liveliness of the present moment. It will help you realize that you are an awareness and that awareness speaks through the body, this understanding will create an entirely different relationship between you and the body and mind.
The benefits of meditation
Deepak Chopra wisely stated, "Meditation is one of the best tools we have to counter the brain's negativity bias, release accumulated stress, foster positive experiences and intentions, and enjoy the peace of present moment awareness."
Chopra explains that an array of research demonstrates that a consistent meditation practice provides substantial benefits for mental and physical health, including:
Reduced blood pressure and hypertension
Lower cholesterol levels
Decreased production of "stress hormones," including cortisol and adrenaline
Improved oxygen use by the body
Increased production of the anti-aging hormone DHEA
Enhanced immune function
Decreased anxiety, depression, and insomnia
In our Unshakable Self Yoga & Meditation Membership, we deeply explore the inner world of meditation, it’s mechanics, and how it can serve you. We do this on the cushion and on the mat. The asana aspect of Yoga provides us a chance to connect to and align the body, facilitating mental calmness. We perform precise movements that keep our minds engaged and are designed to relax and soothe the nervous system. We focus on elements like inner strength and core, feet and balance: two primary areas in the body that can generate feelings of focus and trust and shift the dial from anxiety to tranquillity.
As you can see, meditation has little to do with silencing your thoughts; that's merely a side effect, not the initial objective. It can alter how and from where you relate to the world and help you develop a relationship with what you are beyond the thoughts. Eventually, you find yourself at peace with who you are: peace and love.
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