If someone had told me as a kid that one day I’d find tremendous value in stillness, I probably would’ve sat there awaiting the punchline for 1/8 of a millisecond before leaping into the air to sprint spasmodically around the neighborhood at the mere thought of sitting still-age. While I’ve learned to embrace mindfulness since then, I couldn’t read more than a few sentences sitting still until earlier this year. (Dear Elliptical Machine: Thanks for keeping me literate!)
Everything changed when I began to explore meditation. Like much growth in my adult life, I credit my introduction to my bulldog Zoe, with whom I shared incredibly slow walks during her final months of life. Focusing on my breath and her presence, I learned to savor each moment, letting my thoughts drift to near nothingness.
Then without really trying, I began seeking stillness throughout each day. More recently, I’ve begun to meditate sitting or lying still, focusing on my breath, imagery or mantras. And guess what: it’s not boring! On the contrary, it’s a practice I’ve grown to look forward to, and that attracts exciting growth and change. It doesn’t always go as smoothly or simply as I’d like—sometimes it’s flat-out tough—but it always helps. I’ve been sleeping better, working with greater clarity, finding more joy in daily life and even reading pretty well at home.
Woah.
Meditation may not sound sexy, but it so is. Here are just some of the awesome benefits.
You can meditate your way to…
…improved body image and food attitudes. Poor body image and food or dieting fixation detract from health and happiness in myriad ways by increasing stress, disrupting relationships and, if you eat a restrictive diet, lead to nutrient deficiencies, mood swings, weight gain and more. Research shows that adding mindfulness practice into your daily life can help improve these issues, reducing instances of emotional eating, food cravings and negative body- and food- related thoughts.
…a healthier, happier sex life! Meditation is great way to de-clutter your brain, improve sleep and lower stress, which are PRIMO forms of foreplay. Or foreplay-foreplay—i.e., making foreplay more enticing, feasible and pleasurable. These attributes are important because stress and sleep loss are leading libido tankers for all genders. Meditation can also improve sex hormone levels and set the stage for more powerful orgasms. If you’re really into the sexy perks of meditation, you can pair the two by practicing orgasm meditation.
…improved physical and emotional health. Meditation may be the most studied and proven means of natural health care, both as preventative medicine and as treatment, of all time. And while it shouldn’t replace doctor-recommended care without his or her approval, research has shown benefits for managing anxiety disorders, insomnia, chronic pain, depression, cancer, high blood pressure, asthma and heart disease, reports the Mayo Clinic.
…increased awareness. Little allows us to move forward, live fully, cultivate our passions or appreciate life as powerfully as self-awareness, in my opinion. Life is too precious to not do all we can to honor it. Don’t you think? That was a huge motivator for me to dig deeper.
If you’d like to learn more about meditation, sign up for Oprah and Deepak Chopra’s 21-Day Meditation Challenge, starting November 3rd. It’s FREE and convenient; you simply sign up then listen to daily meditations online. I’ve signed up and would love it you’d join me!
**Special thanks to KM Huber, Rob Riley, Scott McAllister and others who’ve encouraged me to embrace meditation. You absolutely rock.**
Do you meditate? What do you love most about it? Or find most challenging? Will you be joining the 21-Day Challenge? I love hearing from you. ♥
I do meditation quite often…but usually follow it up by watching a horror movie. What does that say about me?
LOL That you’re groovy!
Great post. I love to meditate too- although I prefer movement based meditation. I find that works even more for me. Author Camille Maurine talks about how women’s bodies are built to move when they meditate so it really freed me of the frustration I would feel when I couldn’t sit still. Now I can fully enjoy my moving practice.
You mentioned something so key — finding what works for us. So glad you have! I still really enjoy walking meditation. Camille Maurine’s work sounds fascinating.
For me the process of art is it’s own form of meditation. I need to do more of that, and want to as well.
Creative work can be so medicinal and meditative. Best wishes for more doses in your life.
Yes to all the things. You’ve now encouraged me to make this a priority during NaNoWriMo to reduce anxiety while writing.
So happy to hear that! Good luck!!
I just LOVE your post, August. Unfortunately I cannot mediate. *blush* – It’s a tiny bit embarrassing, but whenever I try to meditate, I fall asleep right away.
(I usually think, as long as I don’t snore, grunt and drool nobody should realize it, provided THEY definitely DO meditate and don’t open one eye once in a while to peek around).
I envy your sleeping skills! I wonder if active meditation would work better for you. Regardless, thanks so much for the sweet words!
I also meditate, and it’s been good for me in finding out when I’m starting to stress, and un-stressing myself.
Very glad to hear that, John! Catching stress early is a great thing, and often missed.
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Wonderful post, August, and thank you for the shoutout!
As you know, I began meditating with the Chopra Center and participated in 3 or 4 challenges. It really helped me find my way of meditating. Also, I attended an online retreat with Pema Chodron (Omega Institute offers one annually) where I learned open eye meditation, which I initially resisted and now, it is “the way” for me. Finally, meditation is enhancing my acupuncture sessions, and I believe meditation is the main reason I am making so much progress with my chronic pain. Life just expands continually with meditation. Did not know about orgasm meditation so thanks for that as well!
Karen
I’ve been meditating for 30 years. It’s been an on-and-off practice, given the too-often interruptions of other, necessary activities. But meditation works – wonders if you put enough time and energy into it. I had problems with depression (inpatient therapy) and alcoholism. I haven’t had a drink in 30 years, and meditating had a tremendous amount to do with keeping me strong. I combined mental exercises with meditations and my recovery advanced much more quickly. In fact, much of the mental/imagining work you do in dealing with depression, and it’s evil-er twin, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, coincides with the guided meditations you do in the actual practice, done with an instructor. You can use meditative techniques to assist with your sexuality – it helps by dialing down anxiety. Anxiety – whatever its source – is the number one thing that interferes with sexual activity. (One can devise their own meditations regarding intimacy and rapidly increase the effects. A willing partner could join in.) Meditation instructors are listed on the Internet, as well as other places.
I am so going to try this. Much easier commitment than yoga but I do want to get into that more too. Great post, August.
Yoga’s on my list, too! I think meditation is simpler to make into a lifestyle habit. Hope you benefit hugely.