“When you’re a kid, you lay in the grass and watch the clouds going over, and you don’t have a thought in your mind. It’s purely meditation, and we lose that.” – Dick Van Dyke
It’s been a trying year for all of us. Our lives changed and the new day to day routine was out of our control. Even though many of us experienced time off work due to furlough and isolation during the pandemic, many were unable to appreciate the world around us and enjoy a moment of peace within the storm of the uncertain times we were living.
World Meditation Day encourages individuals to take a step back, practice meditation and clear our minds, allowing us to understand the importance of calm, self-worth and self-love.
Meditation plays a significant role in many religions across the world, particularly in Eastern faiths such as Buddhism, but, during these times of uncertainty, it has been shown that many non-religious and spiritual individuals have also been taking time to meditate, thanks to it easing stress levels and clearing the mind.
Meditation has a selection of key benefits including:
Helping with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Meditation can help to reduce your negative emotions, evoking a sense of calm and ease to your body. This is turn can help improve your patience and tolerance.
Help to manage stress levels
Meditation allows you to gain a new perspective on stressful situations and helps you to manage these stress levels effectively.
Brings people together
Meditating with others can allow you to have an invisible bond, which gets stronger and stronger with every practice. This connection can help build relationships for those who struggle to connect with other individuals.
Reduces distractions
The time during meditation allows you to focus on the present, increase your positivity and make you aware of your mindset.
Makes time for you
This is one of the most important benefits of Meditation. You are making the decision to step out of the storm and have time for yourself.
We recommend that you try adding meditation to your daily routine. Setting a reminder to have as little as ten minutes of reflection a day, whether that be in silence, practicing breathing or filling out your gratitude journal will help your feelings both physically and mentally.