The Benefits of Mindfulness & Meditation

The benefits of a meditation practice are vast and deep. Extending beyond physical health, meditation practices influences one’s mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. As society continues to evolve against the backdrop of capitalism, we bear witness to the ways in which attention is fragmented, challenged and co-opted by increasing distraction. Our attention is one of our most valuable assets. It holds energy and with that, great potential. Ancient practitioners of many contemplative traditions understood that attention is sacred and can be cultivated.

Attention is a manifestation of one’s life force energy, or what the Yogi’s call Prana. How we direct our attention in turn affects how we manage our own vitality and wellbeing. Our attention is a conduit to the deeper, transformative practice of meditation. 

To practice mindfulness is to be conscious and aware of something in the moment, without judgement. Mindfulness is the foundation from which a meditation practice is built upon.

Below are 9 benefits to cultivating a mindfulness and meditation practice.

1. Meditation increases resilience to physiological and emotional stress.

Stress is no stranger to modern society. In a Gallop Study published in the NY Times, it was reported that 55% of Americans experienced stress “a lot of the day,” a statistic from 2018, pre-pandemic. The effects of stress and increased stress hormones like cortisol impair the health of the body and can lead to disruptions in sleep, immunity, energy level, brain functioning and more. Through the practice of mindfulness and meditation, one can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for relaxing the body, diminishing stress and increasing overall resilience to disease and imbalance.

2. Meditation improves brain functioning, emotional regulation and creative problem-solving.

Research shows that meditation increases the gray matter and cortical thickness in the brain. These parts are responsible for emotional regulation, learning, memory and problem-solving. Consequently, the amygdala, part of the brain that regulates stress, fear and anxiety shrinks when we meditate. 

3. Meditation improves our focus.

In our society of constant stimulation, push notifications, emails, flashing billboards and pop-up ads, everything is vying for our attention. How often are you in the middle of an action, when a distraction interrupts your train of thought? It is a fact that multitasking is inefficient. In fact, research suggests that multitasking can reduce productivity by up to 40%. Our brains can only focus on one thing at a time. If we can’t focus our attention, then we cannot do anything well.

4. It reduces the activity of the “monkey mind.”

You know those ruminating thoughts, the wandering mind, the reflections that move in vicious cycles often associated with worry, fear and self-limiting beliefs? Those activities arise from the brain’s “Me Center” otherwise known as the Default Mode Network DMN. Studies show that meditation quiets activity in the DMN and in turn reduces the chatter of our self-inflicting stories.

5. It helps us be more present and access states of ‘flow.’

When our focus is refined and we are plugged into each new moment, we enter a flow state. In this flow state one’s heightened presence, concentration and awareness enables efficiency, optimal functioning and deepened clarity in what one does. Fully immersed in a flow state, the obstacles, self-doubt, stress all dissolve into the background and clarity and fulfillment emerges at the foreground.

6. Meditation widens our perspective.

Meditation teaches us how to relate to life differently, free to conceptual overlay, accepting the unknown rather than attempting to mitigate, navigate and control the outcome of our plans. It allows us to see the ideas that our egos are clinging onto and practice detachment from the dramas of our emotional stories. In doing so, the world becomes full of possibilities rather than problems. 

7. It enables one to respond rather than react.

Meditation creates space between the thoughts and emotions we experience. We do not need to be victims of time, place or circumstance. Through spaciousness we access our own agency and ability to cultivate compassion and understanding. With widened understanding, we seed the possibility to respond to situations and circumstances from a place of grounded decision-making rather than reactive self-defense mechanisms.

8. It deepens and improves our relationships

Ultimately relationships define how we move in the world, our identities and the realities we construct. When we attend to our relationships (be it with family, loved ones, colleagues, food, addictions, and ourselves), we can develop an ecosystem of harmonious relationships that support one’s wellbeing. First with oneself. The more awareness we have around our habituations, patterns, and behaviors the greater insight we have into how our actions affect our world around us.

9. Meditation makes us happier.

When we have stronger relationships, sense of community, we are happier. Human beings are biologically wired for connection. Harvard Research reinforces that tending to our relationships is a form of self-care and having good relationships keeps us happier and healthier. 

There is an energetic snowball effect. Meditation improves our focus. When we are focused, we are more efficient and productive. When we use our time wisely, we get more done and create more space in our lives for play, self-care and our relationships. When we carve out the time to do the things that nourish us, we restore our physiological resilience, are better able to show up for ourselves, our families, friends, and community. When we can do this, we in turn become happier. 

The benefits of meditation are endless. If you are interested in learning more, reach out for 1:1 meditation coaching or check out the Introduction to Mindfulness & Meditation Course!