The Importance of Meditation for Personal Healing

By Sophia Young

I want you to take a closer look at your skin right now. More often than not, our skin presents a certain way when we’re sick. Maybe you have a redness you can’t really figure out the cause of or acne breakouts every now and then.

You can also inspect your body. Maybe there is a pain or an injury that is bothering you with how long it’s taking to heal. These are ways in which your body is crying out for you to pay more attention. How healthy your mind, body, and soul is can manifest in your body. So when you’re tense and filled with worry, it is your body that’s taking most of that stress.

Part of holistic healing is meditation. I’m sure you’ve heard of this everywhere and you probably even know a few people who stand by it—there is a good reason for that. While it does not work miracles, meditation tunes you into your own body. It makes you aware of how you truly feel physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Why Meditate?

Meditation helps slow our world down. It gives us a sense of balance, calm, and peace that we won’t otherwise get if we don’t stop and just breathe. Meditating is a holistic way of staying healthy. While most people would often think of it as an activity that will only calm our minds and help us navigate our emotions, it can actually also benefit our physical health.

Meditation and Our Bodies

Meditation can prove useful to those with medical conditions, especially if these are illnesses or diseases that can be worsened by stress.

Meditating can help people lower their blood pressure, lessen stress, increase healing and repair, lessen anxiety, and even lessen whatever pain they are feeling. This practice can also aid in managing conditions such as asthma, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, sleep problems, and tension headaches.

One thing to remember, though, is that you should talk to your doctor or your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of meditation to any of your existing conditions. Meditation is great additional support but it should not be a replacement for traditional medical treatment.

Meditation and Our Emotions

Meditation is one of the best ways to clear away all the clutter that builds up inside your head as the days, weeks, months progress. This practice increases your self-awareness, allowing you to focus on the present moment instead of worrying about what lies ahead.

With meditation, you can gain a new perspective on any stressful situation that you might find yourself in the middle of. It can also build your skill in stress management and reduce any negative emotion you may have trouble untangling or understanding. Another good thing about this practice is that it increases your patience and tolerance and may even make way for a creative breakthrough.

How To Meditate

Meditation is an umbrella term and under it are several types. Qi gong, tai chi, yoga, guided imagery, and mantra meditation are just a few of them.

There is no one right way to meditate because, at the end of the day, they all share the same goal of achieving inner peace. If you’re just planning to add this practice into your day-to-day life, don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.

Meditation isn’t supposed to stress you out so start with something simple. You will find that it can get a little difficult to quiet your mind for long periods of time so try 10 minutes first then progress to 20 minutes, and so on.

If you’re looking for a particular meditation that can help heal you, you can try following the steps below:

  1. Turn off any distractions such as phones, laptops, and other gadgets.
  2. Put yourself in a quiet place. Dim the lights.
  3. Sit straight in a chair, bend your knees at a right angle, and keep your hands on your thighs. However, if sitting on a chair is too uncomfortable, you can opt to sit or even lie on the floor.
  4. Close your eyes or stare at a certain focal point.
  5. Chant a mantra to yourself or use the word “om.” You can also just focus on your breathing.

For those just beginning their meditation journey, it can get frustrating when outside thoughts force their way in. Don’t worry, though! This happens even to those who’ve been doing this practice for their entire lives.

Your to-do list, anxieties, and even memories might find their way to you when you’re in the middle of your meditation. Try not to fight them off as this will only distract you further. Instead, observe them when they enter your mind and just let them pass through.

Like any skill, meditation takes a lot of practice before you can get the hang of it. No matter what you feel about the way you’re meditating, remember that there’s no right way or wrong way to do it. What matters is that it helps you feel better so that you can heal holistically.