The Real Reason We Don’t Meditate
THE REAL REASON WE DON’T MEDITATE IS BECAUSE IT IS COUNTER TO SOCIETAL NORMS.
We live in a doing world. All of this doing pays the bills and allows us to live the lifestyle we want. It nurtures our relationships and builds community. The doing provides for learning opportunities and professional growth, but guess what? So does slowing down.
We all have commitments that may include spreadsheets to fill, family members to feed, homes to clean, dogs to walk – you get the idea - this IS the doing. With all of that doing, we need to bring some balance to re-group, refocus and reconfigure.
So how can we do this?
Through meditation and mindfulness of course! A regular meditation practice can help us become more self-aware. Meditation and mindfulness allows us to get quiet even for short periods of time. It is this quiet that will help us become better human beings and who doesn’t want that?
HOW MEDITATION HELPS US BECOME BETTER HUMAN BEINGS
MEDITATION REDUCES THE AMYGDALA.
Why is this important?
The amygdala is a collection of cells associated with fear, anxiety, and stress. When we meditate our amygdala relaxes and tells us that we are safe. Meditation and mindfulness can help subside our sympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as our fight, flight or freeze system.
When our fight, flight or freeze is turned on, it means we are in a stressful situation. For most of us this is not a sustainable way of life. Alternatively, when we are calm, we can present our best self as we are not feeling overwhelmed. It is in this state that our parasympathetic nervous system kicks in and our brain tells us “It’s OK, you can relax now”. When we are relaxed and not worried, we speak with clarity, take time for others and make decisions based on our personal beliefs and values.
MEDITATION HELPS TO CLEAR OUR MIND.
Notice when your mind and thoughts feel like a knotted ball of yarn and other days when clarity shines bright like a light bulb.
Let’s be clear that meditation will not stop thoughts from forming. We wouldn’t ask the heart to stop pumping blood so why would we ask our brains to stop our thoughts from flowing. A meditation or mindfulness practice simply helps us to streamline our thoughts. It helps us to bring conscious awareness so we can focus.
This focus helps us with self-regulation and self-management. We can respond and react to situations around us through conscious awareness - this is the better (more evolved) human being part.
WHAT IS STOPPING YOU FROM MEDITATING RIGHT NOW?
Can you stop 🛑 right now?
Can you take 60 seconds 🕜 and simply focus on your breath?
P.S. The right answer is YES.
Before you begin, on a scale of 1-5 how are you feeling? 1 is very relaxed to 5 feeling overwhelmed. Pick your number and we will come back to this in a moment.
Now bring focus to your breath. It is as simple as breathing in and out of your nose. Focus on nothing else but the movement of your breath.
If you are seated in a chair, sit with a tall spine. Feel the connection your back has with the seat beneath you. This will also bring a sense of security and tell your brain it is OK to relax.
Now try closing your eyes. All of this is optional however closing your eyes helps to minimize visual distractions.
Really, stop reading this and bring your focus to your breath for three cycles, in and out through your nose - then open your eyes.
Now do you feel any different. Go back to that scale of 1-5. How are you feeling? More relaxed? If not, that is OK. When we try something new, it can feel uncomfortable and sometimes stressful. It is the same with meditation.
Meditation takes practice and focus. Keep at this, everyday. If you are curious to learn more, there are many tools and resources available.
Insight Timer is a free meditation app with thousands of meditations available and guess what? You can follow Mindful HR Services! Here you can find a meditation practice in support of mindfully ending your work day.
Checking In is a Canadian-based company whose mission is to elevate personal well-being through the simple act of a check in. Not only do they offer individuals a way to pause and check in but they also have a platform for businesses to support healthy workplace habits.
SUMMARY
Please know, anytime we meditate, the brain continues to work (thankfully!) as such, there are distractions. Thoughts come and go and when that happens, you start over. Remember, we meditate to counter all our doing; to re-balance and refocus. This is all in support of creating a world of healthier human beings and who doesn’t want more of that?