Many people that seek more peace and less stress in their lives try meditation. According to various research, hundreds of millions of people worldwide have tried meditation at least once in their lives, and millions of people meditate daily. Despite this large interest in meditation, many people that try it quickly give up because they claim that there is not enough time to meditate, or they feel impatient because the desired results do not come fast enough. Meditation is a practice that develops over time. In the beginning, it may feel like meditation agitates you and makes you more anxious or stressed. It is because initially, many thoughts and emotions have o come up to the surface before you can come into a state of clarity and peace. However, it is worth staying patient and consistent.

Initially, even just 5 minutes of daily meditation will bring significant benefits. There are countless different meditations from many spiritual traditions. Not every meditation aims to bring the same result, and not every meditation is suitable for everyone. For example, in the hatha yoga tradition, different meditations focus on specific energy centers in the body (chakras) or aim to move energy in a certain way (kriya). Meditations from the Buddhist tradition often focus on mindfulness of body and mind. And there are many more! Here are seven main benefits of regular, skillful meditation practice. And there are many more!

Stress management

One of the first signs your meditation practice is working is greater mental calmness and stability. Because of that, your capacity to deal with stressful situations increases. You can better discern which situations are worth stressing about and which are not. For example, do you really need to worry about things that are out of your control, like traffic or other people’s decisions or behaviors?

Less Worry and anxiety

The thinking mind is addicted to clinging to the past or worrying about the future. When you are angry or resentful, you cling to the past. When you constantly worry or fear something, the mind is in the future. Peace and calmness can be found in the present moment. The main challenge in meditation (and in life) is to remain in the present moment and experience what is in the present moment, including all thoughts and emotions that arise. Eventually, you experience that beyond these passing thoughts and emotions, there is a still place within that is always peaceful and free. By training your mind to stay in the present moment, you also learn to accept and appreciate what is and develop trust in life.

Better sleep

Many people struggle with insomnia these days. Restlessness often has its root in the information and sensory overwhelm that many of us experience daily. It is ok to have a sleepless night once in a while. But when it happens regularly, it can damage your health. So good sleep is essential for your well-being! Many studies show that regular meditation improves the quality of sleep. It gives you more restful sleep because it relaxes the whole system. As a result, worry and anxiety will
not keep you up at night as much. Some studies suggest that experienced meditators need less sleep. It is because, in meditation, they can reach a state of profound relaxation, similar to the rest one can get in deep sleep.

Mental Clarity

One of the most incredible benefits of meditation is the increased ability to see things clearly. Yoga tradition often describes the mind as a lake. Like a lake during a storm, the mind is often distracted, agitated, or chaotic. There is a lot of stuff in it, and the water is not clear. Its surface is uneven. We cannot see what is really there. We are confused and distracted. However, when the lake is still, its surface is clear. The debris and mud sink down to the bottom, and we can start perceiving what is in the water. The reflections on the surface of the lake are clear. The same applies to the mind. When you learn to still the mind, you start perceiving its actual content, and consequently, you see what issues need to be addressed or transformed. Not only this – you can also access inherent calmness and peace. You can learn how to still this lake of the mind by turning the inwards and focusing on a specific energy center located in the midbrain. Through that, you gain mental clarity and calmness, which help you deal with different life situations more skillfully.

Better concentration

This point follows from the previous one. When the mind is calmer and less distracted, it becomes much easier to focus. As a result, you can better focus on one thing at a time and complete what you need to complete more efficiently. This is an excellent skill in our modern, information-overloaded world. You would probably agree that a clean, tidy space makes concentration and productivity easier. And likewise, it is much easier to concentrate with a clear, calm mind that is not stuffed with too many chaotic thoughts and information.

Stronger intuition

According to yoga, tantra, and many other spiritual paths, the whole world we experience outside of us is also inside. We are like mini versions of the entire universe. This is quite fascinating! Therefore, according to yoga and many other spiritual paths, everything we need to know is already inside us. Yoga calls this knowledge the inner teacher, or simply: intuition. You connect with this inner guide when you turn inwards. When you go beyond the thinking mind. The more you connect with that subtle part of yourselves, the stronger it becomes. You start to spontaneously and intuitively make the right choices and better feel what is right or wrong at the moment.

Experience of Inner Peace

Meditation is an essential component of probably every spiritual tradition. Through meditation, you can experience the feeling of oneness and profound peace – something we all seek, deeply at our core. Meditations that focus on the heart can bring profound peace and joy from within. They can make you feel content and at home within your body. As a result, your heart gradually opens towards others. You begin to feel more free and content in life. With which of these benefits can you resonate the most? What are other significant benefits of meditation you have experienced in your practice? Do you feel more motivated to practice meditation daily after reading this article? Please let me know in the comments below.

Namaste,