Why you should really learn to meditate
We are living in an unbelievable world.
We’ve split the atom.
We’ve left our planet.
We've delved into the depths of the ocean.
We've cured diseases that were once deadly.
And we've harnessed the power of technology to transform lives.
And despite all this. We are as depressed as we’ve ever been.
Around 300 million adults in the world are suffering from depression.
In a hectic and fragmented world, there might be a solution that can give you the power to pause, contemplate and experience true calmness.
That solution is meditation. And that’s what we’re talking about today.
Over the last few years, meditation has taken the world by storm. It used to be a practice reserved for free spirits and hippies. And now, everyone is doing it.
Including me. But why? Why does it matter? And how can it benefit you?..
In this article, we’ll talk about the benefits, why I started to meditate and what I learned, as well as how you can get started.
What is meditation?
Meditation can mean lots of different things.
For me, it means spending time with your mind.
It is an ancient technique that’s been practiced for thousands of years across various cultures and religions.
There are so many different forms like mindfulness, transcendental, mantra, focused and guided meditation.
The overarching goal for most meditation forms is to train the mind to be more present, calm, and aware of the self.
During meditation, people usually sit or assume a comfortable position and direct their attention to a specific object, a thought, a sensation, or to the breath.
This object of focus serves as an anchor to bring the mind back whenever it wanders. The goal is not to suppress thoughts but rather to observe them without judgment and gently guide the mind back to the present moment.
The benefits
The benefits of a regular meditation practice are numerous and well-documented.
It can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, improve concentration, enhance emotional well-being, and promote overall mental and physical health.
Meditation has also been linked to changes in brain structure and function, leading to improved cognitive abilities and emotional regulation.
It is a simple but powerful tool that can be incorporated into our daily routines to bring about a sense of balance, tranquility, and self-awareness.
Why did I start meditating?
At the end of last year, two friends of mine recommended I start meditating.
I’ve heard about it before and been told by other friends about the benefits but I never really gave it much thought.
At first, I was skeptical - but I decided to give it a try.
Little did I know that this decision would actually change my life.
As someone who works long hours on nights and weekends and everything in between, my life is quite hectic.
It’s stressful and filled with lots of challenges like managing responsibilities and juggling lots of tasks, especially when I’m working in the hospital.
I often found myself struggling to maintain attention and focus, especially with so much on my plate. This is when I thought meditation might help me find some mental clarity and improve my focus.
So I went ahead and downloaded this app called Waking Up. Initially, starting a regular meditation practice was tough. At the start I didn’t really feel like sitting still for 10 minutes. Knowing that I might be late for work or just remembering something important.
But over time, I realised that these thoughts are fine to have. You shouldn’t try to block them out when you’re meditating. You should become aware of them.
Then bring your focus back to an object or your breathing.
As someone new to meditation, the app I used provided the guidance I needed. The app offers various meditation sessions led by experts in the field, making it accessible for beginners like me. I started with short sessions and gradually increased the duration as I became more comfortable.
And as the days, weeks and months went by, I started to learn things about myself.
Here’s what I learned
One of the most important things it taught me was the value of mindfulness and being fully present in the moment.
Not too long ago I found myself rushing to a ward in the middle of the night to attend a crash call after an emergency message came through on my bleep.
You don’t really get much information in that scenario. Just the location of the emergency in the hospital.
When this happens you get stressed.
Your heart rate picks up and your breathing rate gets faster. I’ve been here before.
As I was walking through the hospital, everything seemed to move in slow motion. The urgency of the situation combined with the lack of information created a state of tension in my mind.
I could feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders already, I might be the only doctor there for a while and my mind was racing with various possibilities of what could be happening.
As I was navigating through the corridors, I randomly remembered meditation. Taking a few deep breaths as I was walking, I reminded myself to be present and fully aware of the current moment. I focused on the sensation of my breath as I was walking, and I tried let go of any thoughts about what might be awaiting me.
As I entered the ward, I took a moment to ground myself by observing the sounds and sights around me.
The beeping of monitors, the hushed voices of the nursing staff, and the bright overhead lights in an otherwise pitch black ward — all of these details became the focal point of my attention.
By immersing myself in the present moment, I felt a sense of calmness wash over me, even in the chaos of the emergency.
Without much information to go on, I relied on my training and experience as a doctor, but the mindfulness really helped me stay focused and attentive. Instead of getting carried away by my racing thoughts, I remained composed, making quick but thoughtful decisions.
Throughout the intense moments that followed, I kept returning to my breath whenever I felt my stress levels rising. Just taking a few deep breaths allowed me to stay grounded, ensuring that I could provide the best care possible for the patient.
After the situation was under control and more staff arrived, the patient stabilised, I realised the power of mindfulness during high-pressure scenarios. Being present in the moment helped me manage my emotions and reactions, allowing me to respond to the emergency with a clear and level-headed approach.
From that night on, I started incorporating mindfulness practices into my daily routine, not just during meditation sessions but also during moments of stress and uncertainty at work.
The lessons I’ve learned from meditation became an invaluable tool for staying focused and composed in the face of life-and-death situations.
Another thing I learned from meditating is that it’s enabled me to experience clarity and hold onto moments longer.
Meditation is not about understanding things in the conventional sense but more about seeing and experiencing things clearer.
By meditating, I've noticed a big impact on my ability to be present and fully immerse myself in certain moments. This lets me cherish these moments, holding onto them longer even though I know they’ll fade.
Recently during a family dinner, we found ourselves sharing stories and there was laughter all around the table.
It was one of those moments where you just couldn’t stop laughing.
As we laughed together, I became aware of the impermanence of the experience.
I knew that the evening would eventually come to an end, and we would all go back to our individual routines. But through the lens of meditation, I found myself savouring the moment more fully.
Instead of being preoccupied with the passage of time or anticipating that I have an early start at work the next day, I embraced the present moment. My focus was on the laughter and the smiles.
In that moment of clarity, I realised that I didn't need to understand why we were all laughing or analyse every detail of the conversation. Meditation had taught me that sometimes, the most meaningful experiences are those that we simply allow ourselves to be fully present for. I held onto those feelings for as long as I could.
I didn't let distractions or worries about the future interrupt my experience.
By observing each laugh, every expression, and the warmth of our togetherness, I felt a deep sense of gratitude.
When the dinner eventually came to an end, I noticed that although the specific details of the evening would fade with time, the essence of that moment remained with me.
Through meditation, I have kind of cultivated the ability to hold onto these experiences.
Meditation has genuinely given me this newfound clarity and presence.
It has taught me that life's most precious moments are not always about understanding everything or trying to hold onto them forever.
Instead, they are about experiencing them fully, with an open heart and a clear mind.
For the final point I thought I’d talk about how meditation has improved my focus, awareness and emotional regulation.
And it’s done all those things to some extent.
But I wanted to talk about social media.
Because people are so obsessed with the external world. To no fault of their own.
Social media feeds are filled with carefully curated content showcasing the highlights of people's lives - which is fine.
But this constant exposure to others' seemingly perfect lives can lead to feelings of inadequacy and comparison. It's easy to get caught up in people’s "highlight reels" and forget that everyone experiences ups and downs in life.
Also these platforms usually encourage seeking validation through likes, comments, and shares.
Relying on external validation for self-worth can be precarious, as it leaves individuals vulnerable to the fluctuations of online feedback.
And I think that meditation has helped me to ground myself and enable me to develop a sense of self-worth that isn't tied to external validation or comparison.
Which I think is important. And it might be useful for you too.
So where do you get started?
There’s literally thousands of books and hundreds of apps.
Just looking at the apps on my phone. It’s probably one of the most important ones for me.
I think it’s worth downloading and giving it a try.
It’s called Waking Up.
You can use my code for 30 days free.
I’ll link it at the end of the article. I’m not affiliated with them it’s just my referral code, as far as I’m aware I don’t get a kickback from it.
I just like using the app.
Remember: If you don’t use your mind. Your mind will use you.
A quote from a great
Have a fab day,
Z
Waking Up referral code: https://dynamic.wakingup.com/shareOpenAccess/SCCEF6F1F
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