By Elizabeth Herman | Posted: April 03, 2018
What happens to the mind as a result of regular meditation practice? Peace of mind can make such a difference in your life. Dealing with others more effectively and overcoming stressful situations with ease, are just a couple of the manifestations of peace of mind. There are many benefits of meditation, many ways mental and emotional peace can change you for the better.
1. Meditation helps you to respond instead of react
Have you observed your mind when turbulent situations arise? These situations trigger powerful emotions in us. When emotions run high, our tendency is to react and be impulsive.
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We can get very easily carried away by our emotions, and lose our awareness of the present moment. We start thinking, “Why did this happen to me? What have I done?” and so on, instead of focusing on the action to be taken. We also tend to worry and feel anxious about the future, obsessing on how to make problems disappear so we can return to normal again.
This continuous bombardment of thoughts reduces our ability to think clearly, so we end up reacting to the situation instead of responding.
2. Meditation prepares the mind to become still
A turbulent mind filled with such uncontrolled thoughts drains out the energy called prana (life force energy), leaving us exhausted and frustrated. So how do we move from this turbulence to tranquility? How can we respond to such situations peacefully?
Shriram Sarvotham, senior Sri Sri Yoga teacher, explains, “We cannot directly force or demand peace of mind, but we can prepare the mind to become still.” Meditation prepares the mind to calm down effortlessly.
3. Meditation allows you to act with complete awareness
Meditation releases the stresses that are accumulated in our mind and leaves it fresh and clear. It brings the mind to the present moment, which is the field of action where our decisions take place.
See, can we smile yesterday? Can we smile two hours later? No, but we can smile NOW. That is in our hands. Any action is possible only in the present moment. When we act with complete awareness of our action, when the mind is totally attentive to the moment, the action is perfect and mistakes do not happen.
4. Meditation help you to spread vibrations of peace
We have the ability to influence our surroundings. When we enter a room where a fight has happened, we feel a little uneasy; when we enter a room where a baby is playing, we catch onto the enthusiasm and joy even if we’re tired.
Similarly, even in a tumultuous situation, if we have inner peace we can spread the vibrations of peace around us. Peace radiating outward can help reduce the turbulence. A few minutes of meditation daily helps us remain calm during any situation.
Meditation’s effects
In addition, meditation does the following:
-makes you mentally strong so you can face any situation with a smile
-makes you peaceful inside
-reflects in outer situations
-increases emotional resilience
-reduces the tendency to react haphazardly
-increases the tendency to respond calmly and intelligently
-provides an effective way to de-stress your mind
A few minutes just for you - your meditation time
Wondering how to break the knots of daily work and responsibilities, to find just a few minutes of meditation time? A good time to meditate is in the morning, as it will help you remain peaceful during the day. You could also meditate when you wish to take a break from your work, or before your evening meal.
During these times, you can just be with yourself, shutting down the doors of daily chatter and relaxing completely. You can make the most of this opportunity and enhance your experience of meditation with a few quick tips:
1) Comfortable surroundings - It’s advisable to meditate in a quiet place. This saves you from distraction and helps you have a deeper experience.
2) Be regular with the practice - It’s a good idea to meditate twice a day and be regular. Only then will you be able to observe its gradually increasing positive effects on your life.
3) Meditate with your buddies - You could get together with some of your close friends and meditate in a group. This will enhance your experience; it will also help you to be regular with your practice.
4) Try some stretches before meditating –This helps release the stress and tension in various parts of your body and helps you relax into a more enjoyable meditation.
5) Observe your thoughts - Do not make an effort to resist your thoughts. Let them flow. Meditation is effortless.
6) Take it easy - Make sure you meditate for at least 15-20 minutes. Do not be in a hurry to open your eyes.
7) Make sure your stomach is not full – This will prevent you from falling asleep during meditation!
Written by By Divya Sachdev, inspired by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's wisdom talks
