Meditation: the key to mindfulness

Meditation is such an important skill that we can all use in our daily lives. I have been practicing meditation for almost a year now, and it is something that really helps me focus on the present and relaxation.

Our society nowadays is so fast-paced, and we often don't have time to reflect on what is going on around us right now. People are often consumed by the future and what is happening later on in their day, or even years into the future. For many this can cause high stress and anxiety, however, meditation can put these feelings at rest. If you are not aware meditating is 'focusing one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.' (Oxford dictionary definition). Meditation is a key tool for personal growth and development and it brings so many benefits to daily life.

Firstly, it is shown that students who practice meditation and relaxation tend to achieve better grades throughout school. this is mainly due to the fact that they are not as stressed about it and meditation has allowed them to focus and calm themselves down before they sit the exam. Linked to this is the fact that meditation improves creativity and new ideas plus the fact that memory and recall are increased. Meditation allows us to be in the present and allows us to recall information that has just happened or from something that is about to happen as we are more alert and aware afterward. It allows us to process our emotions and help control our thoughts. It acts as an opportunity for self-reflection and gratitude. Overall, it has no real drawback. One of my favourite benefits of meditation is happiness. Once you start meditating you will feel happy and as though you have achieved something in your day. It can take a while for these benefits to come into play, but with regular mediation, you can build them up fairly quickly. You don't have to be 'perfect' at meditation, but just enjoy it whilst it lasts.

Mediation is so easy and requires no skill at all. Simply find yourself a quiet place and put on some relaxing music which can be found on Spotify and YouTube. You don't have to but I enjoy closing my eyes as well. Once you have done this, focus on your breathing. Find a steady pulse of breathing in, holding, breathing out, and holding and repeating. Some like to repeat mantras whilst meditating but I prefer not to. Try to let your whole body relax, including your mind. Let your busy thoughts escape your head and think of why you are doing this and what you are grateful for in your life. That is pretty much all you need to know. Do it as long as you feel necessary and then after a while, you will start to gain the positive benefits listed above.

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thomasjlblog

17th February 2021