I'm not one to gatekeep, so in this blog post I'm sharing the good, the bad and the ugly about Meditation and my journey towards meditating every day.
I'm not sure about you, but I'm an overthinker. My internal monologue is non-stop and there's always some annoying music playing in my head.
So the concept of sitting quietly and thinking of nothing didn't sound appealing or feasible to me.
I'm happy to say that I was wrong and that the 5 minutes I spend meditating every morning and night are now some of the most precious in my life.
In this blog post, I'm telling you more about how I finally managed to meditate daily, and how 5 minutes of Meditation every day changed my life.
How I introduced the practice of meditation into my daily routine
I was first introduced to the practice of Meditation when I signed up for Yoga classes in 2014 (I practice traditional Yoga, so Meditation is always a part of our classes), and ever since then I've been trying to meditate every day before going to bed.
I only managed to do it in 2020 - the year the covid-19 pandemic hit - and after finally releasing one of the biggest meditation myths - that Meditation is the complete absence of thoughts.
Coming to this realisation changed my perspective towards Meditation and helped me embrace the practice without feeling guilty and frustrated because I kept distracting myself with my thoughts.
Meditation is not about the absence of thoughts. Release the expectation of not thinking of anything whilst you meditate and you'll have more success at introducing the regular practice of Meditation.
It may sound counter intuitive, but my obsession with clearing my head completely during meditation was really holding me back and creating "anti-bodies" towards this incredibly powerful practice, causing me to give up after a few frustrating meditation sessions.
Today, I meditate (at least) 5 minutes in the morning and before going to bed. I still get distracted, but I don't miss my practice. When I do get distracted, whether that's by a thought, a sensation in the body, or a sound in the environment, I simply accept it and bring my attention back to the meditation technique I'm using. I'm no longer frustrated because I've learned to manage my expectations.
Overtime and with the natural progression of my Meditation practice, I get less and less distracted and find it easier to let go of all my thoughts. I'm also able to concentrate on my meditation technique for longer periods of time without interruptions.
Realising that Meditation is not about the absence of thoughts can be the missing link to sticking to a regular meditation practice, but I do have other tips that I shared in a previous blog post that you may find helpful if you want to start meditating every day but don't know where to start.
Read more here.
How 5 minutes of Meditation every day changed my life
It took me a while to find the formula that allowed me to meditate every day but I once did, it didn't take me long to notice the changes and how my life has since improved.
Here's how 5 minutes of Meditation every day changed my life:
#1I’m a lot more resilient to stress
Meditation taught me to observe my thoughts as opposed to engage with and respond to every single one of them.
So I’m not triggered as often and can process my thoughts more objectively (with less emotion).
#2 I feel less anxious
The consistent practice of Meditation is scientifically proven to reduce the size of the amygdala, a part of the brain that controls the processing of emotions and fear.
A smaller amygdala equals a more regulated response to fear and a more balanced response to triggers.
#3 My pain threshold increased
The practice of Meditation released endorphins which are natural pain relievers.
Scientific research has showed evidence that Meditation “meditation uses neural pathways that make the brain less sensitive to pain and increases the use of the brain's own pain-reducing opioids”.
#4 I experience more space and peace
Because I’m not constantly stressed and anxious, I can comfortably spend time on my own without being afraid of my thoughts.
It’s peaceful.
#5 I know myself better and what I want to do in life
Because it’s safe to be in my mind, I can understand my thought patterns and objectively identify my triggers.
I can see myself for who I am beyond my racing mind, recognise my values and personal truth because there’s less noise.
The regular practice of meditation changed my brain and my life forever.
It changed the way I see reality and how I react to things.
It allowed me to move beyond my thoughts to get through to the essence of myself and my personal truth.
It brought me peace.
And if Meditation can work for me, it can certainly work for you.
If you're still reading, thank you. I hope this post encourages you to give another chance to the practice of Meditation and helps you stay consistent, persisting and not giving up.
Good luck 💜
About the author
Hi! I'm Cat, the founder of Yogaful Studio. My mission is to support you calm your busy mind, heal, and guide you towards your best, most authentic life - beyond trauma and societal conditioning.
So if you feel like there's more to life than the current hamster wheel you're currently stuck on, Yogaful Studio is the place for your to find rest, balance, clarity, and peace.
Learn more about how you can practice Yoga with me below.