Right now, before you continue reading- I want you to take your shoes off and ground your feet. It can be your living room floor or the grass outside. Ground both feet, stand tall, close your eyes, take a deep breath and say "Thank you, Mother Earth."
Take a moment each day to thank the earth for something. Thank the stars, thank the rivers, thank the mountains. Take some of the time you spend scrolling through Instagram or Facebook and put it towards positively energizing yourself. Your health will benefit, your energy will benefit, your mind will benefit, and your spirit will benefit.
When meditating, the body undergoes a structural change, which demonstrates the profound impact of simply sitting down with your eyes closed.
On a physical level, meditation:
Lowers high blood pressure
Lowers the levels of blood lactate, reducing anxiety attacks
Decreases tension-related pain, such as, tension headaches, ulcers, insomnia, muscle and joint problems
Increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior
Improves the immune system
Increases the energy level, as you gain an inner source of energy
I have suffered with depression and anxiety almost my entire life- I understand, I know, I feel. I can't say how much these moments have helped me through my struggles. There are so many times that I could not stop shivering and shaking because of my anxiety. I felt like I could not handle anything anymore and wanted to throw in the white flag- I wanted to give up and call it quits with everything. This was all before I found meditation and my moments to relax- to breathe. When I feel anxious I stop what I am doing to take just a few seconds to close my eyes and slowly breathe in and out. It calms my nerves, relaxes my mind and I am able to control my feelings- telling myself "it is okay".
Meditation is also a practice of self-care, that allows for a connection with the inner self. In doing so, self-esteem increases and the ability to make decisions that align with the individual’s authentic feelings and desires, and allow for better self-regulation. With regular practice of meditation:
Anxiety decreases
Emotional stability improves
Creativity increases
Happiness increases
Intuition develops
Gain clarity and peace of mind
Problems become smaller
Meditation sharpens the mind by increasing focus and expands through relaxation
A sharp mind without expansion causes tension, anger and frustration
An expanded consciousness without sharpness can lead to lack of action/progress
The balance of a sharp mind and an expanded consciousness brings perfection
While there is no doubt that you will feel the benefits of meditation after just one session, in order to experience the benefits of meditation into daily life, regular practice is very necessary. It takes only a few minutes every day, and once you make it a part of your daily routine, meditation will become the time of day you look forward to!
If you struggle from anxiety or depression- You are not alone.
